Kiln Court care home WILL close.

A meeting tomorrow (Thursday) will make the final execution of the home in Lower Road, as campaigners admit a very sad defeat.

Kent County Council was due to call the shots back in January, but deferred the decision until this week for them to carry out further investigations.

But in an agenda for tomorrow's Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee, Graham Gibbens writes: “I propose to close Kiln Court registered care home and delegate authority to the corporate director of social care, health and wellbeing, or other nominate officer, to undertake the necessary actions to implement the decision.”

In October, it was announced that Kiln Court, along with seven other care homes, would close because it was “no longer fit for purpose because there is a greater demand for sheltered accommodation and nursing homes”.

A public consultation was launched and ran until December.

A petition was set up, collecting hundreds of signatures opposed to the closure.

Among those against the proposal is Faversham MP Helen Whately.

She said this week: “I am disappointed that Kiln Court is to close. It is a much valued community asset and the staff there have done great work over many years caring for the frail and elderly, as well as providing support to local families who needed respite facilities.

“While I understand the reasons KCC have put forward for closing the centre, providing high-quality health care locally is a must. I will continue to monitor the situation and press KCC to ensure good replacement facilities are actually in place before Kiln Court finally closes.

“There are also opportunities for health agencies to use this overall situation to improve provision in Maidstone and across Kent, particularly for dementia care home and nursing care home beds.

“In Faversham I will be pressing those agencies and KCC to ensure they work together to make the most of these opportunities, maybe using the Kiln Court site as part of that.”

The home is expected to close for the last time in August.