SHOCKED residents of a Chatteris old people’s home have been told it will close as soon as they can be found somewhere else to live.

KPMG, the receivers of The Gables in East Park Street, says the home is operating with nine residents yet still has 17 staff. Its website says the home has room for 48 residents.

“The staff from the care home will be made redundant,” a spokesman for KPMG said today. It is one of two care homes it took on from the Stargate Partnership portfolio that will close- they hope to keep others trading.

The spokesman said The Gables and another home, in Bognor Regis, will be sold.

“Unfortunately independent valuations - based on current occupancy levels and the capital expenditure required – have shown that Ashton Manor at Bognor and The Gables are no longer viable as going concern businesses,” said the spokesman.

KPMG is continuing to look for buyers for the remaining five care homes from the group, which are operating as normal with the help of HCMS, a major care provider.

The spokesman said HCMS will be working with staff to minimise disruption to the daily routine of residents whilst a buyer was found.

Neil Gostelow and Jane Moriarty of KPMG have been appointed joint administrators.

Chatteris councillor Florrie Newell said she has been getting calls from relatives concerned at what will happen.

She said some time ago the county council withdrew its block booking at and when she queried the reason was told it was because of lack paper work.

“That seemed to me a bit draconian and I was told the owners put a new manageress in place and I thought it had been resolved,” said Cllr Newell.

Coming on top of other closures locally it was going to be difficult to find other accommodation, she said.