MORE than 40 frail and elderly residents at a Hindhead nursing and residential home have just five weeks to find a new home following a sudden announcement that the The Wilton, in Wood Road, is to close.

It is the second nursing home in the local area within weeks that is under threat of closure, leaving residents and their worried relatives struggling to find places in nearby homes.

Just two months ago, the manager of the dual-registered nursing and residential home categorically denied rumours that the home could be demolished and sold to a property developer.

Liz Berry confirmed that a survey was taking place but told The Herald: "There are definitely no plans to close the home."

News of the closure of yet another desperately needed home, has come as a blow to a seriously ill Haslemere woman and her husband.

A former nurse at Haslemere hospital, Joyce Hoskin (75), who suffers from epilepsy and has had several strokes during the past six years, was told by her husband Stan that The Wilton home, where she is currently staying, will close next month.

Mr Hoskin (69), of West Street, told The Herald that he received a letter on Thursday of last week, informing him the owners of the 42-bedroom home, Gracechurch Homes Ltd, intend to close the home on June 28.

"The letter came as a complete shock. We did not have any idea that there were plans to close the home and I was even more surprised that it is being closed so quickly," said an anxious Mr Hoskin.

He explained that his wife had been living in the home since last September but had been in and out of hospital.

She also spent some time at Haslemere Hospital where she helped to appeal against its closure.

"She was just beginning to feel settled at the home and now she will have to move yet again," he added.

Mr Hoskin suffers from severe arthritis in his knees and said that although he is very keen for his wife to come home, it will be difficult to make the arrangements for care assistance in the short time available.

"I am unsteady on my feet and will definitely need some help to care for Joyce properly. I would certainly not be able to cope on my own."

The letter to the families of residents at The Wilton, signed by Liz Berry on behalf of the operations director of Gracechurch Homes, Mr S Patel, said the closure was due

to "economical issues, registration requirements, recruitment difficulties and the prospect of meeting newly introduced standards".

On Wednesday one of the directors of the company, Surendra Patel, refused to make any further comment about details for the home closure.

But a local woman, who didn't wish to be named, told The Herald that she had heard rumours that Mr Patel was asking developers if they would be interested in buying the property.

She believed there were proposals for a development of 50 houses and flats.

Mr and Mrs Hoskin have both attended Haslemere Age Concern's day activities at the Wey Centre. Their friend and deputy manager of the Haslemere branch, Judie Paget, said: "I think it is absolutely dreadful that they have been given such a short length of time to make new arrangements.

"Trying to sort out funding for care takes a long time and it will be a complete nightmare for Stan to get everything ready in time."

Deputy director of Age Concern Surrey, Helen Dickens, commented: "Age Concern Surrey is saddened to hear that yet another care home is closing and older people will have to move from a place which they have come to regard as their home."

Mrs Dickens went on to urge residents and their families to contact their local social services branch as soon as possible so that a care manager can assess the resident and help to find them another home.

After hearing about the closure, leader of Waverley Borough Council and councillor for Hindhead, David Harmer, said: "I share Age Concern's views about the situation, and I am sad to hear of this news.

"We have not received a planning application at Waverley Borough Council to change the use of the home but the circumstances and reasons given for the closure suggest that the owner does not intend the home to carry on being used as it is now."

Another Hindhead councillor, Peter Isherwood, also expressed his concern for the residents and their families.

"It is a tragedy for the residents and their families that such a desperately needed facility is to close. I will obviously start to try to find out more about the situation," said Mr Isherwood.

A spokesman for the recently formed government body responsible for inspecting all care homes and facilities, the Care Standards Commission, told The Herald that it was premature for homeowners to close down their businesses in anticipation of the new care standards.

The spokesman explained the Care Standards Commission expects more than 95 per cent of all homes in England to meet or exceed the new care standards.

"As yet we have not carried out any inspections and if we do find homes that do not meet the standards we will give advice and guidance about how these shortfalls can be met."

She went on to criticise many owners of nursing and residential homes in the south of England for "cashing in" by selling homes located in desirable and expensive residential areas.