RESIDENTS and relatives at a Torfaen assisted living home staged a protest on Thursday, over plans to remove their meal service.

Last month, it was announced that Torfaen council and Melin Homes would be withdrawing the cooked-for hot meal service at Croesyceiliog’s Ty George Lansbury as part of a cost-cutting exercise. The service, which delivered a hot meal once a day, is due to end tomorrow.

The residents of the assisted living centre have, until now, been able to choose whether to pay for a cooked meal, to be eaten in a communal dining room or in their own rooms, or make alternative options.

Around 10 residents and their family members took part in the protest outside Melin Homes offices in Pontypool today. They have set up a committee called Save Our Meal Service and have themselves arranged for The Village, a bakery and delicatessen in Griffithstown, to provide cooked meals to residents.

Jaine Wills, whose father-in-law is a resident, said: "We feel we have been treated quite appallingly.

"The whole experience has left residents with a bitter taste in their mouth."

She added: "My father-in-law has been there since August and we were sold the meal service as part of it all when actually they knew in April that the meal service would cease."

She also said, on behalf of the committee, residents should have been properly consulted when Melin were told by Torfaen council that the money to fund a kitchen assistant who prepared the meals - around £14,500 - was to be stopped.

Beth Ashcroft, whose mother is a resident, called the meal service 'essential' and good for 'social inclusion'.

The group had a meeting with Melin Homes today to express what they felt was 'poor communication' and 'no proper consultation' between the housing association and residents.

Adrian Huckin, director of communities, enterprise and care at Melin Homes, said: "We understand that residents and their families are concerned and have met with them on a number of occasions since the decision to withdraw funding was taken by the council.

"We have met today with a group of residents and will continue to work with all residents and service providers to ensure that nutritional and social needs are met."

He added: "We understand that residents have already been very proactive and chosen a company to provide them with a hot meal which will enable them to continue to eat together in the communal facilities.

"As for the long term future of the kitchen we will ensure residents at Ty George Lansbury are fully consulted with and are involved in any decisions taken."