A BLACK cloud remains over a Bromsgrove home for the elderly but residents and their relatives are continuing to fight for a brighter future.

Worcestershire County Council, the leaseholder for Blackmore House, wants to demolish the home and build very sheltered housing accommodation.

But campaigners say the home is popular and should remain open under the management of Birmingham charity Broadening Choices for Older People (BCOP).

The School Drive building's future has been uncertain since the Government's introduction of National Minimum Standards. It was believed major work was necessary to meet new laws but guidelines later revealed the revamp could be scaled down.

But county bosses insist the home is running at a loss and its rooms will not attract residents because they are not en-suite.

At the authority's cabinet meeting last week, members agreed to embark on a further consultation exercise.

Christine Bourne, whose 83-year-old mother-in-law lives at Blackmore, said: "The home runs at a loss because the council won't pay fair prices for services. Also, while the rooms do not have en-suites, residents are happy to use the communal bathrooms where they have support from carers.

"Blackmore is full and has a long waiting list so obviously the lack of en-suites is not putting people off.

"Residents would not benefit from new sheltered housing because that's where many of them have come from."

County councillor June Longmuir (Con - Bromsgrove South) said: "Our role is a strategic one, to not only look at accommodation services for older people in the present but to look at how this affects the future too."

However fellow Tory, Cllr Tom Wareing (Crabbs Cross) told the meeting it would be lunacy to close the home.

"Blackmore House provides an excellent service that clients and their concerned relatives are perfectly content with."

The home manager was unable to comment.