Moves to close a nursing home have been postponed amid claims residents are being used as "political pawns".

Kirklees Council had hoped to canvass the public about proposals to shut Threelands Grange in Birkenshaw.

But it has decided not to take any action until a report on the future of services for the elderly is published after local elections in May.

Chairman of the Council's Social Affairs Management Board, Labour Councillor Colin Watson, has accused opposition councillors and union officials of "putting votes before care".

But ward member Andrew Palfreeman (Con, Birstall-Birkenshaw) said he and colleagues had done nothing more than defend the interests of constituents by helping to postpone the Council's moves to start public consultation.

He said: "I have never sought to use Threelands Grange as a 'political football' and I and other ward members have simply defended a home in our ward."

He said Conservative councillors had helped to delay Council officers consulting with the public, residents and staff by vetoing the proposal at an early committee stage.

They feared consultation would prove the Authority's first step to closing the home.

Both Labour Birstall and Birkenshaw ward councillor Austin Calvert and MP for Batley and Spen Mike Wood have spoken against the closure.

But the Council's ruling Labour group says Threelands and a home in Huddersfield will not meet new Government standards.

Coun Watson said: "I will not have our elderly residents used for political purposes. The reprehensible tactics of some councillors relating to consulting on Threelands Grange are an utter disgrace.

"It is a fact that our homes will not be able to meet the higher standards required so we have to look at ways of raising standards and developing wider choice and options for providing care."

Margaret Sheard, chairman of home support group Friends of Threelands Grange, said the delay would provide time for her group to prepare arguments for keeping the home open.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.