AN UNDER-threat care home in Southampton looks set to be saved.

Civic chiefs say the want to keep Holcroft House, in Thornhill, open.

But Glen Lee care home in Bitterne still faces the axe, in a move Southampton City Council says will save almost £1 million a year.

The decision comes following a public consultation into the closure of the two council-run care homes, which ended last month.

The council had highlighted the closure of both sites as its preferred opinion – cutting more than 70 jobs and saving more than £1.3million a year in the process.

But, following the consultation, the city council says it will now look to keep Holcroft House open.

The council says the move will "minimise the impact on staff", while residents at the axed Glen Lee site will be given the option to move to Holcroft House.

The final decision will be made at a cabinet meeting later this month.

Councillor Lorna Fielker, Cabinet Member for Adult Care said: “Glen Lee has served us well, but whilst the quality of the care by staff is great, the facilities no longer meet modern standards.

"Our residents tell us that they want to continue living independently at home for as long as possible, or would like to access alternative options like Housing with Care or Shared Lives schemes, rather than go into a residential care home.

"Our adult care vision for Southampton reflects that.”

Revealed in October last year, plans to close both care homes sparked a major backlash from union chiefs, who threatened strike action.

Both Unison and Unite warned the city council its 2,500 authority-employed members could revolt if the plans were pushed through by the Labour controlled council.

Local Labour members also vowed to back unions and fight against the plans, while more than 100 protesters gathered outside Labour's regional conference in Southampton in November to protest the decision.