The son of a 94-year-old Blitz survivor is “appalled” after being told the care home she is living in is set to close.

Alan Lazarus was left “completely flabbergasted” by the news that Ross Wyld Care Home in Walthamstow’s Forest Road will shut on June 30 when the lease expires.

The 61-year-old is the only child of Hettie Lazarus, a former journalist who lived in Walthamstow during the Second World War.

The widow endured a six-week stay in hospital last winter before being placed in the care home in December.

There are 47 pensioners living at the premises, 21 who are funded by the Waltham Forest Council, and 72 people are employed there.

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“I was shocked when I received the call from the manager,” said Mr Lazarus of Mile End.

“I had just come out of a meeting on Friday (April 6) and I was completely flabbergasted because it’s not very much notice.

“It came out of the blue and I cannot believe that they didn’t know about this when my mother was placed there.

“She had a bad flu and broke her pelvis very badly and had to undergo a six-hour operation. Then it was found she would never walk again and she can’t look after herself.

“She’s had the stuffing knocked out of her and she’s a bit traumatised and now I’m worried about what effect the move will have on her.

“I’m appalled that a good nursing home is closing and staff are losing their jobs.”

It is not known what the intended use of the building at 458 Forest Road will be and an application has not been submitted to the council for change of use.

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In its latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission on February 9 2018, the residence was rated ‘inadequate’ for safety and ‘requires improvement’ in four further categories – effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

Amanda Cunningham, care services director for Four Seasons Health Care which manages the home, said her team will work to help the “dedicated” staff transfer to other care homes.

She stressed that the company are treating the wellbeing of residents as a priority and would work with the council to find alternative placements for them.

“I am very sorry that we have no choice but to close the home,” said Ms Cunningham.

“The long-term lease on the premises has expired and the landlord decided not to exercise an option to renew it for another 14 years’ term.

“We negotiated a short-term lease to the end of June, which should give plenty of time for appropriate arrangements to be made for the ongoing care of our residents.”

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A spokesman for Waltham Forest Council said he is “concerned” about the planned closure, which he was notified of on April 6. He said the council has made contact with the landlord and Four Seasons Health Care to see if a reversal of the decision can be negotiated.

He added: “Any proposal to change the use of this land would have to be supported by evidence that the care home is no longer required.

“There are firm planning policy requirements in place which a proposed redevelopment of the site for residential use would need to overcome. Our director of regeneration and growth has written to the freeholder explaining the constraints on the site’s usage.”

But Mr Lazarus believes the closures could result in a “desperate scramble” for places in care homes in Waltham Forest and is keen to speak to other families affected by the announcement. To contact Mr Lazarus email alan.lazarus@openreach.co.uk.