Campaigners Launch High Court Legal Action Over Kirklees Council’s Decision To Privatise Its Last Two Care Homes

Campaigners have launched High Court legal action in a bid to stop a local authority from privatising its last two long-stay dementia care homes.

Claremont House in Heckmondwike and Castle Grange in Newsome are to be sold and taken over by private providers, Kirklees Council has confirmed.

Following the announcement, impacted families instructed expert public law and human rights lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate their concerns over these proposals. They argue that while the decision was stated to have been made on a financial basis, there remains a lack of evidence to support this.

This latest legal challenge comes after campaigners fought an initial proposal in 2023 to close the homes, which resulted in the council being forced to retreat and the care homes were kept open.

Legal experts apply for judicial review

Irwin Mitchell has now applied to the High Court for a judicial review to be held examining the legality of the council’s latest proposal.

Rebecca Chapman is the specialist public law and human rights lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the campaigners.

 

Expert Opinion

“Local authority-run care homes provide vital care and support to a number of people, particularly those living with dementia.

“Many of those affected by the planned business transfer of Claremont House and Castle Grange have voiced their anger and disappointment at how they feel the council has acted throughout the process.

“We’ve heard first-hand accounts from families who say the decision will have a significant impact on their loved ones.

“We previously wrote to Kirklees Council to this effect, but privatisation is still set to go ahead. We’ve therefore now applied for a judicial review.” Rebecca Chapman

 

High Court challenge: Brenda Hughes' story

Both Claremont House and Castle Grange can cater for up to 40 residents each.

Among those affected by the changes is 90-year-old Brenda Hughes. She has been at Castle Grange for seven years after suffering a fall.

Brenda has late-stage mixed dementia. Her son Adrian Pygott, 62, is deeply worried of the effect that privatising the care home will have on his mother, as well as the other residents.

Son reveals worries for mum over proposed changes

He said: “My mother has high emotional needs and can become upset and distressed at the slightest change in her routine. She also has a range of complex physical needs.

“The care provided by the staff at Castle Grange is exemplary and I’m greatly concerned at the thought of this being taken away from her or, even worse, her having to move homes.

“My mother isn’t the only one, however, and I worry that the disruption will have grave consequences for the other residents too.

“Those of us campaigning have our loved ones' interests at the centre of it all, but it seems clear that the Council don’t. They claim the decision is in the best financial interests of Kirklees residents, but there are so many gaps in the evidence they’ve provided.

“What we want is for the needs of the residents to be considered carefully and for the council to rethink their plans, but this hasn't happened, so we have no choice but to take legal action.”

As well as the lack of financial evidence, the campaigners also argue that they haven’t been fully consulted throughout the planning process and are calling for this to be rectified.

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