THE fight to stop the closure of three day centres is back on.
In July, the families of special needs adults who use Woodside Day Centre in Hayes, Phoenix Day Centre in South Ruislip and Parkview Day Centre in West Drayton – all run by Hillingdon council – secured a judicial review into the authority’s decision to close them, and replace them with a smaller day centre in Queens Walk, South Ruislip.
To avoid the review the council agreed to reopen the consultation, saying it did not want to use public funds fighting the legal challenge.
Kevin Kelly, who is a carer to his brother, is offering advice to people who want to be part of the consultation, and has urged anyone affected to have their say.
He said: “I and other carers believe that there should be two centres, one in the north of the borough and one in the south, to best serve the needs of the community.
“It is important that the mistakes of the first consultation are not repeated. The council also needs to contact the parents and carers of teenagers who will be day centre users in the future.”
Mr Kelly was concerned that the first part of the consultation, before the closure decision was made, failed to inform some relatives in time to take part and lacked vital information, such as the assessment of the needs of their disabled offspring.
He said some relatives are still not clear about the service their ‘child’ – many, now adults with a range of disabilities – would be offered
The proposed closures are part of a plan to save £4.5million each year from the council’s disabilities budget by 2014-15, by also providing 440 ‘assisted living units’ alongside the Queens Walk centre.
Linda Sanders, director of social care and health at Hillingdon Council, said: “We wrote to all parents and carers of service users to inform them of the consultation, which will be carried out over a minimum six week period.
“We are offering individual meetings with officers once all assessments and support plans are in place, to offer help and assistance in responding to the consultation.
“Everyone will be given the proper opportunity to respond and make their views known, and if necessary we will extend the consultation to make sure this happens.”
The consultation period runs until December 14. Go to www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/25841/Consultation-on-day-opportunities-for-people-with-learning-disabilities
n See letters, page 14
