A SHELTERED housing scheme in Barkway is to close. Wheatsheaf Meadow, which was opened in 1981 and has 42 flats, will be shut down by owners North Herts Homes. A spokesman for North Herts Homes said the sheltered housing is being closed after the company

A SHELTERED housing scheme in Barkway is to close.

Wheatsheaf Meadow, which was opened in 1981 and has 42 flats, will be shut down by owners North Herts Homes.

A spokesman for North Herts Homes said the sheltered housing is being closed after the company carried out a two-year comprehensive review on the viability of all 23 of its sheltered schemes.

"There are no plans for the site as yet."

Physical surveys of each building were carried out assessing condition and viability of the structure.

It was found that the condition of Wheatsheaf Meadow was not up to standard and could not be made so at a reasonable cost.

Wheatsheaf Meadow resident, Daphne Thorne, 71, said: "They told us they were closing us down because there weren't enough people. But that's not true.

"Everyone here is horrified and upset."

North Herts Homes is currently informing tenants of the plans and beginning individual consultations with them and their families. But it says no decisions will be made regarding time-scales and processes until the consultation is completed.

North Herts Homes owns and manages about 8,500 homes across the district.

It took over the running of property from North Herts District Council when the local authority decided to sell its stake.