COBGATES care home in Falkner Road will close “this summer” according to Surrey County Council.

Surrey’s cabinet agreed to close all six of the county council’s “outdated” care homes in March last year despite protests by residents of the homes, their families, the wider public and trade unions.

Since the decision, Longfield in Cranleigh and Brockhurst in Ottershaw closed last summer, and Cobgates in Farnham and Dormers in Caterham are to be closed this year.

The remaining two homes, Park Hall in Reigate and Pinehurst in Camberley, will be closed in the summer of 2017.

Once home to 50 beds, Cobgates now has just 19 residents with many deciding to move out early in anticipation of the closure.

A county council spokesman said: “There is no specific closure date yet but Cobgates is likely to be closed towards end of the summer.

“We have been in discussions with all residents and their families trying to find them new places which suit their individual needs and give them the very best care.

“The reduction [in residents] has coincided with residents deciding to move out early and staff at the home are being offered the chance to be re-deployed or transferred elsewhere.”

The spokesman added no decision has been made on the building’s future, although Surrey’s cabinet member for adult social care Mel Few promised last March that all six buildings will be retained to serve a future role in adult social care.

The homes are being close two at a time during the summer months so residents are not moved during cold weather.