ANGRY residents claim they have been "betrayed" by Bradford Council after the sale of a Keighley site.

Relatives of people living at the town's Rix House, a facility for adults with learning disabilities which is earmarked for closure, had been in discussion with the local authority about the potential of alternative accommodation being provided on land in Fell Lane.

But the families learned through an article in the press that the proposed plot, formerly home to the Holme Wood Resource Centre, was being sold off at auction. It subsequently went for £626,000, almost double its guide price.

"We were led to believe in our last meetings with the council that this was the preferred site for new accommodation to be built on," says Marie Ann Peters, whose brother has been at Rix House for four decades.

"It was a total shock and feeling of devastation when I read that the land was being sold at auction.

"We had been given no indication at all by the council that the Holme Wood site was no longer on the table, let alone that it was going to be auctioned off.

"There has been no regard whatsoever for our loved ones, the families or Rix House staff.

"It was disgraceful and disrespectful for the council not to inform us of its decision.

"I am very angry and feel betrayed."

She said a number of meetings had been held with Bradford Council over the future of residents at Rix House.

"At the last meeting in April we were told the old Holme Wood site was being seriously looked at," she adds.

"We were assured by the council that it would involve us fully as the plans moved forward, and that we would be contacted.

"Now we feel we're right back at the beginning, with all the uncertainty and worry."

Bradford Council has apologised for not keeping families informed.

A spokesperson told the Keighley News: "We are doing everything we can to support residents at Rix House and their families, and understand their concerns.

"We did investigate the use of the council-owned land at Fell Lane as a potential site for the location of new supported living accommodation for the current residents of Rix House. Unfortunately, after looking in more detail at this, it was not found to be a feasible plan. The site was then declared surplus to the council's requirements and was sold at auction.

"This site was always an option that was being explored rather than a definitive plan. We do apologise to the families for not communicating this sooner and not letting them know that the land would be sold. We have arranged a meeting with families and Turning Point, the company which provides care at Rix House, to discuss next steps.

"Once again, we apologise for any distress this caused. As always, our priority is to ensure residents' needs are kept at the forefront of what we do as well as minimising any disruption whilst we explore alternative accommodation options for the people living at Rix House."

When the council announced the closure plan for Rix House last year, it said large residential homes were no longer the "preferred model of support" for adults with disabilities, with supported living being the better option.