LibDems close the Causeway day centre

Conservative councillor David Fraser has been campaigning hard to save the day centre since the first plans to close the Causeway were announced. Councillor Fraser said that "the centre is a lifeline for the people who use it and they have got used to one another and the staff. It's not just bricks and mortar it's the comradeship and the relationships. The centre has been run down to make a case, the council is selling land to make money and justify the closure."

Cllr Fraser goes on to say: "It will be so tragic for users and carers who depend on the Causeway, as a drop in centre won`t provides the same sort of care. Carers and their relatives are really stressed out about this. But it could be argued it should be a moral duty."

LibDem controlled Kingston Council announced in January 2011 that it has plans to close the day centre which provides for people with learning and physical disabilities. The administration has said that the centre was too big and was falling into disrepair, with money being spent on maintenance rather than services. The closure of the day centre comes as part of the council's plans to save £2 millionfrom the adult social care budget. Executive Finance Member LibDem Cllr Rolson Davies was quoted saying that "THE COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE A DUTY TO PROVIDE DAY CENTRES."

Numerous consultations have taken place over the future of the Causeway Centre with proposals outlining a possible drop-in centre, giving service users individual budgets, increasing work activities, making transport more flexible and working with other providers.

Since the plans were announced a demonstration has taken place with a growing petition which currently has 1,854 signatories. With strong community support and anger in how the administration has once again targeted the vulnerable in a swathe of budget cuts, the issue will now be discussed at Council.

A petition was presented to the Coucnil:

We, the service users of the Causeway Resource Centre, petition the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to continue to maintain the service which has proved to be highly supportive and vital to the everyday living of the users, and to their independence.

We believe that the proposal to close the service that has historically been a lifeline to all who have used it is not justifiable and would result in most users being confined to their homes, which would be most detrimental to their healthy living.

We believe, that the implemented consultation to be inadequate.

1. No option offered within the consultation questionnaire whether or not the user (or others) agree or disagree with the proposal to close the Causeway.
2. During the 3 month consultation period, the only venues for the public meetings are in New Malden which does not give all users across the Borough a fair opportunity to put their views.
3. The public as potential future users of the service should also have the opportunity to put their views.

We call upon this Council to abide by the Executive Committee's resolution of the 5th December 2006, that the Causeway and the Crescent be re-provided.

April Wednesday 27th 2011: Councillor David Fraser with users of the Causeway Centre presenting the petition to Full Council

LibDems close Hobkirk House day care centre for the elderly

Conservative Councillors protested

2,000 people signed a petition

Hobkirk House users pleaded

GPs and Consultants warned of the dangers

The LibDem controlled Council DID NOT LISTEN!

Full Council Meeting

Tuesday 24th April 2007

Kingston Conservative Group Councillors put forward a motion to stop the Lib Dem Council from proceeding with their plans to close an elderly day care centre.

A petition of nearly 2500 signatures was handed to the Mayor and a vote was taken. All Conservative Cllrs voted to put an immediate stop to these irresponsible and careless cuts, but were out numbered with every Lib Dem Cllr voting to carry on with their attack on this vulnerable sector of society.

Impassioned speeches were given from users of the threatened care homes and Conservative Cllrs Howard Jones, Mary Clark, Nick Kilby and David Fraser.

Executive Meeting

4th September 2007

Cllr Derek Osbourne and his Executive panel listened to desperate pleas from Hobkirk users; Charles Foster, a blind man in his 70s, and Margaret McBride, whose words were read out on behalf of her because she was to frail to do so herself. They also heard inspiring speeches from Cllrs David Fraser, Patrick Codd and Nick Kilby, and letters, read aloud by Cllr Dennis Doe, from GPs and Consultants warning of the grave consequences of the Lib Dem’s decision to move users to Newent House and to axe ten places.

Cllr Osbourne acknowledged all of this, and still went ahead with the cut, saying: “I am aware this may make me the most unpopular man in the Borough”.

All Lib Dem members on the panel voted for the closure.