COUNCIL chiefs have held crunch talks with nursing home bosses in a bid to find its elderly residents a new place to live.

City of York Council representatives spent three hours yesterday locked in discussions with the owners of Blair Atholl Nursing Home, Haxby, after the Evening Press exclusively revealed the home was to shut.

The York Road nursing home will close its doors on November 17 because it claims it cannot comply with tough new Government standards on physical appearance.

It is thought the meeting, which was held in private, was to try to find a solution for the home's elderly residents, who will have to leave in just under six weeks.

In a letter to residents, owner Dr Michael Devlin said: "Funding for any necessary changes is not available from the Government and fee income is insufficient to meet costs of secure loans."

"Blair Atholl has been a family-run business for over 20 years.

"We have been lucky and privileged to have been able to provide care to so many elderly people in our community and to have provided employment to almost 50 staff."

Speaking to the Evening Press today, he added: "I feel that we have had very open and constructive debate and dialogue with the council over the last two to three years, but their hands have been tied."

A City of York Council spokesman said: "We have been informed about plans for the closure of the Blair Atholl home which we understand is due to the home being unable to meet new standards.

"We are working closely and in full co-operation with the home, the health authority and the hospital trust to agree a way forward.

"The main focus for all of us now is to ensure we can find all the residents alternative accommodation.

"It is important to acknowledge that these are private businesses and in the private market many circumstances can influence the viability of a business.

"Sometimes people just want to move on and do something else."

A North Yorkshire Health Authority spokesman added: "From what we understand of the situation, care managers will be working together with social services to ensure places are found for these residents."

Updated: 14:37 Tuesday, October 09, 2001