Legal action still a possibility in Leslie House row. (by Brian Stormont)

NO FIRM date has yet been established for the closure of Leslie House eventide home.

The doors of the home had been due to shut on July 31, but a high profile campaign against its closure forced a dramatic U-turn by the Church of Scotland's board of social responsibility.

Relatives were determined to stop Leslie House from closing and withheld consent for residents to be moved to other homes throughout Fife.

They formed the Leslie House 21 Group to fight the Kirk's plan, claiming that moving the residents would shorten their lives. They want the home to remain open until the physical, mental and social well-being of the residents are assured.

Group leader Ross Vettraino also petitioned the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to suspend the closure. However, he was disappointed when this was rejected.

Feelings against the proposed closure were so strong that the group investigated the possibility of taking their case to the courts believeing that this would be a contravention of the residents' human rights.

Behind the scenes, however, Ross and fellow members of the group hav ebeen continuing to work hard.

Challenge

A fund-raising group has realised over £1,000 which will pay for the legal bills that have been incurred to date as part of the fight, but more cash may be needed in the future.

"The plan of taking the case to court had been on the back burner, but we are now planning our way around the hefty expense of taking things to court," Ross explained.

"We don't have to rush into things, though, as residents of homes down south are taking Lancashire County Council to court over the closure of care homes. We will be very interested to see how that challenge turns out."

Ross is also preparing a petition which will go before the Scottish Parliament.

Speaking this week, a spokesperson for the Kirk said that, although there was no date, as yet, for closure, things were moving towards a solution.

"Things are running quite smoothly and the remaining residents are going through a settlement period to assess which type of accommodation, whether it be residential or nursing, will be suitable for them," she said.

"The board is working with Fife Council to find out what each resident's requirements are."

There are now 13 residents of Leslie House who are currently being reviewed by Fife Council.