A CARE home for elderly people with learning difficulties near Winchester is to close.

Compton House, in Otterbourne Road, Compton, will shut later this month after decades of service.

Its current owners took over the home in 1991 when the county council stopped running it.

Sandra Peake, one of the owners, said: “The partners are retiring and we have decided now is the right time to go. The house has been on the market, but unfortunately we have not had any takers. There is nothing more to say.”

It is understood there are eight residents currently at the home, six funded by the county council, one by Southampton City Council, and one by the NHS.

A Care Quality Commission report in August found improvements were needed in standards of treating people with respect and involving them in their care, standards of caring for people safely and protecting them from harm, and standards of quality and suitability of management.

County councillor Felicity Hindson, executive member for adult social care, said the council was working hard to re-house residents.

She said: “We recognise the closure will cause distress and uncertainty for the current residents, many of whom have spent several years in Compton House.

“We are working with the residents and their families so they are kept up-to-date and informed about all the available options. We have also held regular meetings with the owners to make sure that settling residents into their new accommodation is as smooth and stress-free as possible.”

She added: “Over the past year we have made significant investments in time, funding, staff resources and training to enable Compton House to continue as a viable residential home and are therefore sad to learn of the closure.”

A farewell party is being held on Saturday, November 17, at 4pm for friends of the home.