TOWN councillors have raised concerns that care home residents will need to find new accommodation for a year when their home is closed in July.

The 43-bed Mayott House care home on Ock Street is to be replaced by a £6.5m extra care housing scheme for up to 42 people. But the new development will not be complete until spring 2015.

Abingdon Town Council leader Sandy Lovatt said: “I am concerned that the residents must be properly looked after.

“This is going to be very disruptive to the old people.

“We will do anything we can to help find homes for these people during the transition.”

Samantha Bowring, town councillor for Mayott House’s Ock Meadow Ward, also voiced her concerns.

“This emotional upheaval will affect residents and their families,” she said.

“It will be my focus to make sure the residents are looked after properly.”

Extra care housing is designed to allow residents to live more independently than in a care home, but with access to 24-hour care.

Couples will be able to live together in one or two- bedroom apartments.

Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for adult services Arash Fatemian said the council was working with the Order of St John Care Trust (OSJ), which runs Mayott House, to ensure residents and their families were involved in making decisions on their future.

He added: “The vast majority of older people want to live independently for as long as possible, but to do this you need the support and facilities in place.

“Clearly, in order to provide new facilities on the Mayott site, there will be some disruption and this is unavoidable.”