Elderly residents at Oakmere Extra Care in Handforth who are losing their restaurant next month will be able to order hot meals from a charity home delivery service as an interim measure.

As previously reported, the current restaurant service is provided by Cheshire East's school meals catering service and the residents pay £6 per meal.

But the council, which has been subsidising the loss-making school meals service, is closing the restaurant on January 3.

Last week, Dan Coyne, head of service for integrated commissioning at Cheshire East, visited Oakmere to discuss the interim alternative provision offered by Knutsford-based charity, The Welcome Café, which would be in place until the end of May.

"The Welcome Café will provide a daily hot, nutritious meal five to seven days a week," said Mr Coyne.

He added they would also provide two sessional activities per week.

Some of the residents at Oakmere in Handforth who will be affected by the closure of their restaurant (Belinda Ryan, LDRS)

"Residents will be able to order a hot meal that will be delivered Monday to Friday, but on a Friday, extra can be ordered that can be then reheated over the weekend," he said, adding the cost would be £6.50 for a meal.

Some residents were unhappy with the proposal.

One disabled man referred to the weekends and said: "How do we heat them up? I can't do that."

Beryl Chapman, chair of the residents' association, told the meeting: "This is the only option we've got and I'd rather take this than none because after Christmas and New Year the restaurant will be closed.

"I think it's better than nothing. At least we're assured of a hot meal."

Some in the room called out, 'no way' with another saying it was 'barely better than nothing'.

Mr Coyne told residents Cheshire East had been subsidising Oakmere meals to the tune of almost £57,000 a year.

He said when the council made its decision on its budget in February 2025, which may mean less money, then a longer-term solution for meals at Oakmere could be looked at.

Mrs Chapman was angry that, at a recent council committee meeting, it had been said the residents weren't entitled to a subsidy.

She said the residents hadn't asked for a subsidy, hadn't been aware of it and were prepared to pay full price.

"We had nothing to do with this subsidy. They're passing the buck on to us because it's subsidised," she said.

"We never asked for that. We never said we're not going to pay this.

"We pay what you say. Why didn't they just put the price up, take the subsidy away and we'd pay the extra?"

And she asked: "Who put the subsidy in place in the first place?"

Other residents nodded in agreement.

Handforth councillors John and Julie Smith (Non-grouped) attended the meeting to support the residents.

Cllr Julie Smith told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The proposal to have meals delivered to Oakmere would appear to meet the needs of residents.

"However, the fact remains that 88 per cent of respondents to the survey carried out by Cheshire East with residents would have preferred the current arrangements to continue albeit with an increase in cost.

"Hopefully the proposed arrangements with Welcome Café will be successful and will extend beyond the trial period which is due to end in May 2025.

"I would encourage residents to explore other opportunities to ensure this valuable facility can be retained as it is vital to the wellbeing of residents who may otherwise be isolated."