A care home for older people could be closed, with bosses saying the rooms are no longer fit for purpose and, with beds empty, the running costs are becoming too high.

Wisbech Standard: Burman House, at Terrington St John, which is under threat of closure Picture: Chris BishopBurman House, at Terrington St John, which is under threat of closure Picture: Chris Bishop (Image: Archant)

Norse Care have began consultation over the future of Burman House in Terrington St John on the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border.

Residents, relatives and staff at the 30-bed residential care home have been informed that the future of the care home is under review.

Retired stevedore Roger Tate, 70, from the Walpoles, is a close friend of one elderly resident who is in his 80s.

“There were residents crying, it was upsetting and unsettling for everyone involved,” he said.

Wisbech Standard: Burman House, at Terrington St John, which is under threat of closure Picture: Chris BishopBurman House, at Terrington St John, which is under threat of closure Picture: Chris Bishop (Image: Archant)

“They say it is an eight week consultation but you know it is a forgone conclusion.

“I’m absolutely livid. Everyone has been handed a form and we are expected to be okay about this, but it is shattering people’s lives.”

Run by Norse Care - an arms-length company owned by Norfolk County Council - the home was rated as good by the Care Quality Commission when they inspected in April.

But Norse Care says a review of its residential homes had identified the cost at Burnam House was particularly high.

They say many of the bedrooms are small, so it is not possible to use specialist moving and handling equipment in them.

Bosses said, because older people increasingly need that sort of care, demand for those rooms has declined, so rooms have been standing empty.

Norse Care is considering the care home’s future, which could mean closing the home and moving residents elsewhere.

But Mr Tate said many of the residents could be from the local area, adding: “Families wont be able to easily visit and they [residents] will feel isolated, lonely, unhappy.

“It seems they’ve already made the decision.

“They say the home doesn’t have specialist handling equipment for example, so get it! There is a growing need for residential care, so why shut a home like this

“Families are upset and so are the residents. I am writing to Henry Bellingham for him to step in and help us.”

The consultation can be found at www.norfolk.citizenspace.com/consultation/burmanhouse and runs until Tuesday, November 20.