PROTESTERS will take to the picket lines outside Labour's party conference today, as they challenge the council over plans to shut two Southampton care homes.

More than 100 people are expected to group outside Southampton Solent University's Spark building from 10am, as politicians, including council leader Councillor Christopher Hammond, give talks at the regional event.

Headed by union Unite, the demonstrators are battling to fight a decision proposed by the city council to close the last two authority-owned homes in the city.

But civic chiefs say shutting Glen Lee in Bitterne, and Holcroft House in Thornhill, would save £1,327,000 per year, which could then be used to focus on 'Stay at Home Care'.

More than 70 jobs would be threatened if the plans were approved, although the council has promised to relocate staff to other areas of the service if the homes are closed.

The proposals are currently in a public consultation phase.

Unite Southampton branch secretary Mark Wood said: “We are hoping for an excellent turn-out from the residents and their relatives, the care workers and the wider Southampton community to show the strength of feeling about this callous proposal.

“We are urging people to make their views known about the need to retain these two homes during the consultation process which began on 24 October. It can’t be right that the elderly residents have to be uprooted from their homes at their advanced time of life.

“We appreciate that Conservative government austerity cuts have left the council with difficult decisions to make, but these closures would only save £1.3 million from 2020/21, according to the council’s own figures."

“We have had talks with the council, making the point that the savings could be made elsewhere in the budget, such as the plans to spend £1 million on solar powered compactor bins. We believe the council needs to reconfigure its priorities.”

As reported, the closure proposals are part of the authority’s planned new budget, which includes a 2.99 per cent council tax hike as it looks to save more than £15 million by 2021.

Adult social care is the main area to be hit, with a proposed budget for 2019/20 of £48.91 million – £4.33 million less than this year’s £53.24 million budget.

Other budget proposals include blue badge holders who use council-owned off-street car parks charged the same as other vehicles.

A final decision will be made in February.