Northumberland Council branded ‘insulting’ over day care letters

Jul 31 2009 by David Black, The Journal

THOUSANDS of people who put their names to petitions opposing the potential closure of day care centres in Northumberland have been sent official council letters – questioning whether they had the right information when they signed.

The letters – signed by a senior member of the Liberal Democrat administration at County Hall – have gone out to almost 2,500 people who signed petitions calling for the seven county council-run centres for the elderly and disabled to remain open.

Yesterday they were branded insulting, unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers’ money by some of those who have received them.

The council is currently consulting on changes to adult care which could result in the closure of the day centres in Amble, Bedlington, Blyth, Haltwhistle, Prudhoe, Ponteland and Hexham.

The threat to the seven centres has sparked widespread anger and concern , and thousands of people have signed protest petitions. Now they have been sent letters by Simon Reed, the council’s executive member for adult care, which says many of those who signed the petitions ‘may not have had the opportunity to study the proposals in detail’.