THE residents of Stanley Wilson Lodge are to be relocated . Your report by Alistair Nelson does not inspire confidence that the future of residents and day care patients has a high priority with either Exelcare or the county council. Anyone who has expe

THE residents of Stanley Wilson Lodge are to be "relocated". Your report by Alistair Nelson does not inspire confidence that the future of residents and day care patients has a high priority with either Exelcare or the county council.

Anyone who has experienced an elderly relative going into care will know the importance to them of maintaining family contact; yet where are these most vulnerable of souls to go? There is nowhere locally!

The community hospital has problems of its own and has taken up any spare places in the area. The importance of the day care facility to the vulnerable elderly still living at home cannot be overstated, ensuring they get a meal and basic hygiene needs.

Experience has shown that assurances by the county council are worthless. It should not prove too difficult to get 80 and 90 year olds to agree to "suitable accommodation", be it Harlow or west Wales - somewhere not too far away for almost equally aged relatives to visit.

The closure of Stanley Wilson Lodge as a social welfare home for the elderly is the final betrayal in a catalogue of broken promises by Essex County Council. Promises they made over several years to the public, staff and residents.

They promised to retain Stanley Wilson Lodge as a care home while they were seeking a buyer. There are no assurances as to the future of staff; would "assurances" really be worth more now than in the past.

No one can quarrel with the provision of twice the number of places; but at whom are these new places aimed? Will the new home be available to the less well off who cannot afford £400-£500 a week; that is £26,000 a year - how long will your savings last?

Daphne Cornell, Rowntree Way, Saffron Walden