Anger over Northumberland day care closure plan

Jun 10 2009 by David Black, The Journal

ANGER is growing over plans to close seven council-run day care centres in Northumberland, amid claims the move will rob many elderly people of vital social interaction and support.

County council bosses are bracing themselves for a campaign of opposition to the proposals to shut the centres in Amble, Bedlington, Blyth, Ponteland, Prudhoe, Hexham and Haltwhistle – which are used by about 370 elderly people each week.

Formal consultations are to be carried out on axing the centres and replacing them with a system where elderly people are given ‘personal budgets’ to spend as they choose on taking part in social activities.

Yesterday The Journal revealed how the plans have been greeted with anger and concern by relatives, opposition county councillors and Age Concern Northumberland – who all say the regular social get-togethers provided by the centres are vital to the well-being of the elderly clients.

Yesterday further protests were voiced, including one from former county council chairman Robert Arckless, the Labour councillor for Amble. He cared for his mother, Maria Stanley, for seven years prior to her death in 2004, during which time she attended the Amble day centre twice-a-week.

Coun Arckless said: “Had it not been for the day centre provision in Amble, I would not have been able to cope for those seven years. My mother made friendships there and benefited greatly from the support she received. These proposals are totally wrong and I will fight them tooth and nail.”