I am deeply disappointed the fears we held about care homes in 2001 have now become reality ("Care homes crisis point", The Argus, January 24).

Five years ago, dozens of care home owners in Brighton and Hove voiced their concerns to me about the Care Standards Act.

They warned New Labour's "national standards" - concerning room sizes, personal space, carpets, doors and the like - could not possibly be met by April 2002 and I campaigned to get this message across.

The Government's deadline was hopelessly optimistic and the period from April 2000 until November 2001 alone resulted in the closure of 28 care and nursing homes across our city.

Whitehall called for time to heal the wounds but we have now learned many care homes are still unable to afford to meet the legislation and are thus faced with closure.

When will the Government realise it cannot keep lumping initiatives on local authorities and small businesses without at least offering some form of viable financial help?

There is simply not the capacity or resources in Brighton and Hove to provide care for every vulnerable or elderly adult without the back-up facilities offered by residential homes.

Good residential provision, including care for the elderly mentally infirm patient, should be a much-valued part of care provision.

With an ageing population, Britain will require more care home places over the next 30 years.

If the Government does not cut its red tape soon, places will continue to disappear and the consequences will be disastrous.

-Councillor Ann Norman, Conservative spokesperson for adult social care and health, Brighton and Hove City Council