A CARE home has announced it is closing its doors for good, sparking concerns over adult social care spaces in the area.

Colne Place care home, in Earls Colne High Street, is set to close due to the economic strain brought on by the pandemic.

The care home has capacity for 33 residents but will now shut down for good, with the news coming just days before the one-year anniversary of the first national lockdown.

It comes following the announcement in August that Chalkney House care home, in White Colne, was closing down.

Just last month, Colne Place received a ‘good’ rating from the Care Quality Commission.

The report ranked the home ‘good’ in every area.

Handsale, which owns the home, say it could be closed as soon as today.

A spokesman for Handsale said: “Unfortunately, due to the economic pressures of Covid-19, the care home was no longer sustainable.

“Following a consultation period with staff and our stakeholders, we had to take the very sad decision to close our doors for good.

“Having liaised with the residents, their loved ones and Essex County Council, all residents have found suitable alternate placements within the local area.

“The home will officially close its doors when the last resident has moved to their new home, and we believe this could be as soon as this Friday.

“Many of the staff have actually found employment at the same care homes that the residents are going to and some have already started their new jobs.

“Throughout support has been on offer from our HR team and Essex County Council.”

But the announcement has also sparked concerns over the falling number of care home places in the Halstead area.

Halstead county councillor Jo Beavis said: “I am sad to learn that Colne Place Care Home will be closing.

“This is a further blow for social care services in the north of the Braintree istrict.

“This will come as a shock to local residents with lived ones being cared for a Colne Place.

“My late grandmother and my late father both spent their final few months and years resting and being cared for at Halstead Lodge.

“Spaces were and are hard to secure but it meant as a family they were close to us and close to their familiar environment.

“That meant so much to my family. I am seriously concerned about the lack of beds available for adult social care specifically in the north of the Braintree district.”