FOR more than two years they have been so near, yet so far.

But all that has changed at a Twyford care home as the original building and new wing have finally been linked.

Through a catalogue of planning and building red tape, residents were virtually cut off from each other, especially in bad weather.

To cross over, the pensioners – mostly aged 80 or above – had to tackle a 40-metre outdoor ramp, or 11 steps on a metal fire escape.

The Abbeyfield (Winchester) Society runs Cusack House and Thornton House in Bourne Lane, and raised money to tackle the issue.

It arose when the charity opened Thornton House in 2009, which has space for 18 residents and cost £1.2m.

Winchester City Council planners would not allow the charity’s new building to be larger than Cusack House.

To gain approval, they sank Thornton House several feet into a hillside, leaving the properties on different levels.

But there was no link between the buildings. Had there been one on the original plans, Thornton House would have been classed as an extension and cost £250,000 extra because of VAT rules.

The charity could not afford that, and has been raising the £160,000 needed for the indoor link ever since.

Three months ago the project was ready to start, and Romsey-based firm SBL Builders has now finished the job.

Winchester MP Steve Brine cut the ribbon to officially unite the two care homes on Saturday (December 10).

Ahead of the opening, Steve Bailey of SBL said: “It wasn’t an easy job and we were on site for about 12 weeks, but now the job’s done and we’ve linked both of the care homes together.”