A GWENT council chief last night admitted he would not place a relative in a controversial care home.

Director of social services for Caerphilly Joe Howsam was commenting on Holly House care home in Fleur-de-Lys near Blackwood.

As reported in Friday's Argus, the home was criticised by the Care Standards Inspectorate Wales last year after serious failings were uncovered.

The Argus reported how Caerphilly MP Wayne David used Parliamentary privilege in the House of Commons to condemn Holly House, which caters for elderly mentally ill people.

He said residents were subjected to "an appalling degree of abuse and lack of care".

Dr Prana Das, the home's owner has defended its record, saying it was difficult to make some people "100 per cent happy".

The CSIW tried to close Holly House last autumn, but a Care Standards Tribunal upheld an appeal against closure. The CSIW in turn appealed that decision, but the tribunal rejected it.

Now Caerphilly's director for social services Mr Howsam has admitted he would not allow a loved one to be placed in the home, and said he still has serious concerns about it.

In a TV interview last night, Mr Howsman said: "Personally, no."

He added: "We are advising all prospective residents, carers and advocates of the current situation and it is then their choice because he (Dr Das) is a registered provider of nursing care.

"We can advise that we have concerns but, if in their judgement, that's where they want to go, they can make that choice."

Last month Dr Das appealed the CSIW's decision to cancel the home's registration and won it back. But the CSIW is still calling for improvements.

Following Mr David's attack in the House of Commons Dr Das claimed he and Holly House Staff were the victims of a vendetta. In last night's programme he said he was "proud" of his home's record, and added that the home had brought a lot of benefits to the community.

A Caerphilly council spokesperson said the council was continuing to monitor the situation.