BBC NEWS | Scotland | Pensioners protest over closure: "Two elderly friends staging a lengthy sit-in protest against the closure of their care home are adamant they will not be moved.
For the past seven weeks, Robert Toole, 75, and Annie Cardiff, 84, have been demonstrating against plans to close Leven Cottage in West Dunbartonshire.
The council said the 11-bed home, the last council-run home in the area, does not meet the necessary requirements.
Ms Cardiff has lived at the home for 24 years and Mr Toole for 10 years.
The other nine residents have since been moved to other homes. Ms Cardiff initially moved out, but decided to return and join her friend in his protest.
They have been joined in the sit-in by Scottish Socialist councillor Jim Bollan and two other supporters.
Mr Toole said: 'It's ridiculous. I don't know what the council is thinking about. The place shouldn't be shut.
'This is the only care home in the Vale of Leven and there are plenty of old people in the Vale of Leven just waiting to come into a place like this. If they shut this place what happens to them?'
Mr Toole went into the home from hospital, having given up his own house and furniture.
'I gave up everything to come in here,' he said. 'This is my home and I'm not moving out of it.
Ms Cardiff said she did not like the new home she moved to.
'I wanted to come back here,' she said. 'I just love it that much. I made it my home.'
SSP councillor Jim Bollan has joined the pensioners' protest and is sleeping on the home's conservatory floor.
'This dispute is about giving senior citizens the choice of where they receive their care,' he said.
'They have decided, quite rightly, that this is their home and they want to see it stay here.'
He pointed out that Leven Cottage was the only council-owned care home for the whole of Leven.
'It is critical that it's kept, not just for Annie and Robert but for future generations,' he said. 'This home will not close'
