A BARRY residential home owner has slammed the government for forcing her to close down.

Sue Rees, manager of Glan-y-Mor, The Parade, claims the new Care Standards Act which requires all care staff to be trained to NVQ level, is just too expensive.

And it is this extra cost that will make owners pack in the business.

The fifty-year-old told the News: "The Government act came in this year, to drive out cowboys mistreating vulnerable people. In theory this is fine, but certain parts, such as the costs of training, make it impossible for care homes like mine to operate."

Sue bought Glan-y-Mor in October 1983 after years of working in geriatric care. She says she was devastated when she found she had to take an NVQ in care herself by 2005.

She said: "I employ 20 carers, some who have been with me since the beginning. But I cannot afford to pay for the training this legislation demands.

She also claims a crackdown on room sharing is another factor in the home's closure. "We are a caring establishment registered for 22 beds. We offer single or double bedrooms. But this law also states we cannot have people sharing. It cuts down our income, and is another reason we can no longer stay open."

This view is not shared by Welsh Health Minister Jane Hutt who claims there is no need for Glan-y-Mor to close.

The Vale AM said: "I was very disappointed to hear the news. I contacted the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales (CSIW) immediately, who assured me they had not required the home to close."

Ms Hutt added the Welsh Assembly has given a further £17 million to local authorities' supporting the care sector. Over half of this went into paying higher fees for care homes. Head of CSIW, Rob Pickford said: "CSIW are not requiring Glan-y-Mor to close.

As for reducing the number of rooms they currently have, the home has been informed the National Assembly for Wales Minimum Standards on shared rooms required 85 percent of all rooms to be in single occupancy by April 2010.

"This was subject to widespread public consultation involving care home interests in Wales and was designed to ensure a balance between individuals' rights and a sensible timescale for implementation."