THOUSANDS of people are pleading with care bosses not to close their elderly relatives' homes in York.

A consultation on plans to close Oakhaven care home in Acomb and Grove House on Penley's Grove Street closed yesterday, and City of York Council's care department is now considering the plan.

On Thursday, a petition signed by more than 2000 people desperate to see the Grove House plan reconsidered was presented to the council.

The petition calls for Grove House to stay open, but Heworth resident Tony Coleman who started the petition said they felt the timescale was just too fast.

He said: "We realise the financial constraints the council is under, but we do think there should be more options in place, other than sheltered housing, because that is not going to be suitable for most of the residents."

When the Grove House and Oakhaven consultation was first announced, programme manager Roy Wallington said residents would be likely to start moving from February.

The council's director of adult social care, Martin Farran, said the programme's aim was to help older people stay independent in their own homes for as long as possible.

He added: "We would like to thank everyone who has responded during the consultation period. We will continue to update residents, 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 homes be closed, are reflected in the results of the consultation.

"The needs of our residents are of paramount importance and the actions we take now will ensure that they – and future generations - will have the best possible quality of life."

Two council-owned care homes, Fordlands and Oliver House, have already closed and the long-term scheme would see all seven eventually shut to be replaced by more private sector provision and more sheltered housing and extra care apartments.

The centres are currently home to 48 older people, and their closure would put 61 jobs at risk.

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