TO govern is to choose.

And there are plenty of tough choices to be made in local government these days.

Mitchell House is one of them.

It has been a much loved care home in Canford Heath for decades.

But it’s old, becoming harder to maintain and unable to provide a suitable environment for modern caring. Local councils are under long term financial pressure. They are also facing up the demands of a social care timebomb, an ageing population.

Mitchell House is just one of many hard decisions coming down the line.