The 106-year-old evicted from care home in snow after court battle defeat

Published 13th Jan 2010

One of Britain's oldest women was tearfully forced out of her care home today despite her efforts to save it from closure at the High Court.

Louisa Watts, 106, had begged to be allowed to stay at Underhill House in Bushberry, West Midlands but was removed from there in freezing conditions this morning.

She was too upset to speak but was taken to a nursing home, five miles away, where she will now live.

Mrs Watts, thought to be Britain's fifth oldest woman, had joined other residents at the High Court to appeal against Wolverhampton Council's decision to close the home because of budget cuts.

She and fellow residents had argued that closing the care home would seriously reduce their lifespan.

The council decided to close the 40-year-old home in April last year.

It added that the property did not meet modern standards and improvements would cost £2million, prompting the legal battle.

The fight was led by campaigning solicitor Yvonne Hossack, who has prevented the closure of more than 80 care homes, but the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the council in October.

Even Prime Minister Gordon Brown had urged the city council to reconsider their decision.

But that, too, was rejected and after the appeal was turned down, Mrs Watts and the other residents were told they would be re-homed.

This morning, the former hospital cleaner was removed from Underhill House and helped out of the front door in a wheelchair in freezing conditions.

Her son, Derek Watts, 77, said the ordeal had left her 'distraught' and had 'broken her heart'.

He added that his mother's health has suffered in the days and weeks before the move, and that she was in tears on Sunday at the prospect of leaving.

Another of the last four remaining residents follows Mrs Watts out of the care home this morning

Other relatives of those being moved said they were dismayed that Wolverhampton City Council went through with the move.

Mick Beswick, 68, whose 93-year-old mother Minnie was also among those being moved today added: 'I could not imagine anybody moving in these conditions, but here we are.

'Louisa's health has gone down hill remarkably and she said the other day that she would rather throw herself in the canal than move. It seems to have had a bigger effect on Louisa than anybody else in the home.

'My mother's health has gone down quite a lot in the past few weeks so I cannot believe this is still happening - she is very upset and a lot of them have been in tears in there today.

'It is unbelievable they are moving people including a 93-year-old, a 98-year-old, and a 106-year-old on a day like this.

'You could understand if there was a mine shaft that was about to collapse underneath the home but there is nothing wrong with the place.'

The council said the home, which is 40 years old, was no longer fit for purpose.

Councillor Les Pugh, of the council's Cabinet Member for Adults, said: 'Throughout this process, our first concern was always to the residents of Underhill House and we strived to ensure that we were able to arrange the best possible care for them by giving them all the information they needed to make their choice.

'At the end of the day we left it to each resident to decide which option they chose.

'The places they have moved into reflect their changing needs. One has moved into sheltered accommodation, giving her greater independence and more facilities such as her own flat, while others were found to require greater support and so are now receiving 24-hour nursing care.'

Mrs Watts, a widow, moved into Underhill House four years ago after her daughter Jean died at the age of 78.

She could not live with son Derek, because she could not manage stairs and the house had no downstairs facilities.

The 77-year-old said: 'She's distraught about leaving Underhill House, it is the place she calls home.

'She has met so many new friends and feels safe there, she pleaded with me to let her stay.

'The ordeal has broken her heart, she has been very tearful over the last week - she loves the home so much.

'Underhill House should have been left open, it may not be Buckingham Palace but it was home and it was family for the people living there.

'It is all about the council saving money - they just don't care about Underhill's residents.

'There has been no justice for the people who have been the backbone of this country for generations.'

Source: ' Daily Mail '

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