The future of the former Bodlondeb care home should become clearer at the end of February.

But campaigners have hit out at the county council for the continued delays, despite council leader Ellen ap Gwynn having said repeatedly over the last year that the sale of Bodlondeb to a private care home operator is completed “subject to contract”.

Councillors received a behind-closed-doors ‘briefing’ into the situation at Bodlondeb on Thursday, 23 January.

A council spokesperson said a report was due to go before the authority’s Cabinet on 25 February, although it is unknown whether that report will be made public.

The spokesperson said: “A report will go to the council’s Cabinet on 25 February regarding the sale of Bodlondeb.

“This will report the final position of the process in relation to the previous instruction given to council officers by councillors.

“The report will ask for clarification on the next steps for officers.”

George Holloway, of the North Ceredigion Forum for Elderly Care, said progress was desperately needed.

He said: “Bodlondeb’s sale continues to be shrouded in mystery, not least for some of the councillors who were under the impression that any deal that had been struck had fallen through in spring 2018.

“However, monthly requests from the forum for more details are met by the stock answer from the leader that the home has been sold ‘subject to contract’.

“How are the people of Ceredigion to learn that a robust and viable offer to provide EMI nursing care at a refurbished Bodlondeb has been on the table for the past 18 months or so?

“The sticking point appears to be the council’s disinclination to accept a deferred payment of £200,000.

“It is a large sum of money but if you recall, Cllr ap Gwynn found that same sum in the budget to be given to the National Eisteddfod.

“Why then are councillors dithering over agreeing to a new purpose-built facility which would go a long way to address the EMI nursing crisis in Ceredigion?”

Mr Holloway added: “It’s high time the council was more transparent in its actions to demonstrate that its decision-making is fully compliant with best practices.”

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