AN UNDER-THREAT Penparcau care home is “at the end of its life” and is “not cost-effective” to keep open, an Aberystwyth councillor has said.

Mark Strong, Plaid Cymru representative on both town and county council, told Aberystwyth town councillors at a meeting on Monday that in an “ideal world” he would like Bodlondeb care home to stay open but “unfortunately reality bites”.

Cllr Strong was speaking as the council backed a motion calling for Ceredigion council to “explore all options to save Bodlondeb”, after the county council proposed a consultation into its closure.

Cllr Strong told members: “The problem is there are things we would like to do, but we can’t.

“There has been a lack of resources and maintenance over a number of years - for decades. I don’t want things to close, but Bodlondeb is at the end of its life. It would not be cost effective [to keep it open]. There are so many vacant places it creates a problem. We’re paying for beds that aren’t used and taxpayers do not want that. I want to solve the issue, and in an ideal would the county council would receive money from the Government.”

Cllr Strong was backed by fellow Plaid town and county councillor Endaf Edwards who said there are “plenty of spare places in other homes in Ceredigion” and that demand for Bodlondeb had dropped.

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