MORE than 700 people have signed a petition calling for a threatened council care home to be saved.

The campaigners want a reprieve for Grove House on Penley's Grove Street which is currently home to 23 elderly people.

Grove House and Oakhaven, in Acomb, are both under threat since City of York Council started a consultation over their future earlier this month.

Now Heworth man Anthony Coleman, a relative of one of the Grove House residents who faces leaving her home if it closes, has started the petition to save the home with help from other concerned families.

Mr Coleman said that although the council says none of its seven care homes are "fit-for-purpose", the residents are happy with their surroundings.

He added: "I know they have to update things, but the people who live there don't care about en suites and wider corridors."

The online petition, who has around 250 supporters on top of the 500 who have signed a paper version, says the campaigners want to save "one of the most caring and friendliest care homes in York".

It adds: "The closure of Grove House would not only be a massive loss for the community but also cause a great deal of stress and upset for many residents and their families."

Two council owned homes Oliver House and Fordlands already closed, and Mr Coleman said he and many other families are frustrated that Grove House could be the next even though it has such a strong reputation.

He added: "We know it's the best home in York because of the ethos and the staff."

Martin Farran, the council's director of adult social care said: “We welcome all feedback during the consultation period and will continue to update residents and their relatives and staff every step of the way throughout this process to ensure their views and any preferences they have about where they would like to move to, should the home be closed, are reflected in the results of the consultation.

He said Grove House was chosen as one of the first to face closure because it is relatively small, there are no residents living there who already moved out of Oliver House or Fordlands, and because selling the site could bring in valuable funds to help fund the rest of the older people's accommodation overhaul.

The council has set up a dedicated care homes hotline on 01904 551919 for the consultation, an email address for people to send their comments to carehomes.consultation@york.gov.uk, as well as face-to-face meetings with residents and their families.

The results of the consultations will be presented to the council's Executive on Thursday, October 29.