HAVE building firm Bovis no shame? The Argus revealed yesterday the developers who want to tear down the historic French Convalescent Home had been stopped in their tracks.

The Government's Culture Minister, Alan Howarth, awarded the building Grade II listed status after a campaign backed by thousands of people across Sussex.

But Bovis Retirement Homes still intends to close the historic home in Marine Parade, Brighton.

That means 40 old people who joyfully celebrated their home's reprieve from being knocked down still face the awful prospect of being kicked out.

None of them wants to go. Like Rose Speed, 91, who teIls us today: "I have been so upset worrying about it, all my friends are here."

Will Bovis really force Rose and her friends to leave the home they all love?

We spared no effort to save this beautiful building, and we will spare no effort to ensure the badly-needed nursing home plays a role in the town for many years to come.

Champagne corks popped when Mr Howarth announced yesterday the French Convalescent Home is to be saved.

By listing the 100-year-old home, he has prevented Bovis from pulling it down and replacing it with retirement flats.

Congratulations are due to everyone who helped fight for this fine old home and the magnificent folk in it, even during the darkest days when all seemed lost.

They included the home manager, Catherine Gennaro, the residents, politicians, especially Des Turner MP and Coun Geoffrey Theobald, but most of all thousands of ordinary people.

Public support was perhaps the most important factor in persuading Mr Howarth to think again when he originally declared the home was not worth listing.

We at the Argus have done our best to mobilise that support and make sure the Minister was fully aware of it. Good for him for not being afraid to admit he was wrong.

There's a long way to go before the ultimate aim of keeping the home open as a going concern can be achieved. Mr Howarth's decision means Bovis cannot rip it down without listed building consent, most unlikely now to be given.

Brighton and Hove councillors can refuse Bovis's planning application for sheltered flats confident this decision would be upheld on appeal.

It is vital now to ensure Bovis, which owns the home, keep it running for the benefit of the elderly residents.

The delightful mock chateau should be a wonderful home for old folk in Brighton for many years to come. It's in a magnificent position and there's a waiting list for people to go there, clear proof there is no shortage of demand.

It is in generally good condition and is capable of being adapted to meet any new standards likely to be imposed by the Government.

Bovis is now stuck with a building it thought would be easy to raze to the ground and replace. The company has been proved wrong. It could do the decent thing and sell the home to one of the many concerns who run nursing homes in Brighton and Hove.

Bovis must not get rid of the old people and convert the home into luxury flats. If it tries to, it will face an even more furious outcry. But if it shows true compassion and will earn the thanks of the people in Brighton and Hove.

Judging by its hard-nosed

attitude so far, it's more interested in profits than in the people who live there.

Bovis still says it wants to close the home despite the decision of Mr Howarth and the wishes of all the frail residents who live there.

As for the trustees who've treated everyone, especially the old people, with contempt during this long saga, they are now trying to wash their hands of the whole affair. We will never forget a lot of the blame for the threatened closure rests on their shoulders.

The French Convalescent Home as a building has been saved. The battle to save the people like Rose who live there has only just begun.

We say to Bovis: Listen to public opinion and close it if you dare. The people of Brighton and Hove and the Argus will not let you.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.