GROWING rumours that a former care home is being used as accommodation for illegal migrants have been scotched by Cornwall Council, following comment on social media and within the community around St Day, near Redruth.

A member of the public, who did not want to be named, said of Trefula Care Home: “There’s been quite a lot of noise over the last day or so about illegal immigrants being stationed there, with probably 200 or 300 comments on Facebook. The site is fenced off. I drove past on Sunday night and got followed by security.”

Cornwall Council and Cllr Connor Donnithorne (Conservative, Redruth Central, Carharrack and St Day) were quick to quash the rumours. A council spokesperson said: “Clearance and repair work has begun at Trefula Care Home, which closed in January 2025. The site is being transferred to a new care provider and will be redeveloped into a modern home with close-care flats. The project will create jobs and provide high-quality facilities for council and NHS care places.”

Cllr Donnithorne said: “I have worked hard as the local Cornwall councillor to ensure Trefula continues to provide excellent care facilities for those who need it. I’ve also worked hard to communicate that Cornwall Council have been very clear with me that this site will not be used to house illegal migrants.”

Cornwall Council purchased Trefula House Nursing Home at Vogue in 2019 to prevent its closure. However, despite its arm’s-length company Corserv running of the home and considerably improving the quality of service, the building was no longer suitable for use as a care home and attempts to identify a developer for the site were unsuccessful at the time of its closure.

Trefula provided nursing care for 22 elderly people when it closed. An additional 14 bedrooms upstairs were closed and not registered due to health and safety risks.