People urged to support day centres

Pensioner Barbara Wiltshire is urging people to sign petitions to save the Silver Rooms and the Essex Rooms.

DAN GRIMMER
27 November 2009 15:00



Pensioners fighting to stop their beloved day centres from the axe today called on the community to add their names to petitions and to pack a public meeting next month - so county council bosses get the message they should be saved.

Campaigners battling to keep the Essex Rooms and the Silver Rooms in Norwich open are hoping a good turn-out at the meeting, coupled with the thousands of signatures collected through a string of petitions will demonstrate how families in Norwich value the centres.

Norfolk County Council insists the proposals to close the centres are not motivated by a desire to save money, but are part of a switch in policy which will see council-run day service focus on people with dementia and what are known as reablement services - where people can learn the skills they need to live independently.

The council says the problem with the Silver Rooms and the Essex Rooms, along with Hempnall Mill in South Norfolk, are that the buildings are not fit for that purpose and it would not be cost effective to bring them up to scratch and has said nobody would go without day services who is entitled to them.

The council has listed a number of alternative services and says personal budgets could be used to find other ways to provide the stimulation needed, not necessarily in a day services setting.

But the pensioners who use those services say they do not want to lose them, arguing they are much more than just lunch clubs and are a lifeline for elderly people who might otherwise be lonely.

Barbara Wiltshire, 72, who lives off Mousehold Street and uses the Silver Rooms, in Silver Road, was furious when she learnt of the closure proposals and has collected hundreds of signatures on a petition she set up.

She said: “I have been out and about on my mobility scooter getting people to sign the petition. I was in The Mall the other day and I am hoping to be in the city centre again on Saturday.

“People are always shocked when I explain what they are looking to close. People understand the economic pressures, but it needn't be done this way, by taking away from elderly people.

“I think elderly people will cost the NHS more in the longer term because they will end up in hospital if the centres close.

“We must have thousands who have signed the petition now and I hope it will make a difference. I'm planning to present it to the county council or maybe even to Downing Street. I'd even take it down there myself.”

The public meeting, which will take place at the Vauxhall Centre, near Chapelfield Gardens, from 7pm on Tuesday, December 8, has been organised by the Norwich and District Carers' Forum, along with the Labour and Green groups, following a similar one which was held at the Christchurch Rooms in Magdalen Road earlier this month.

Julie Brociek-Coulton, Labour city councillor, said: “We have invited the cabinet members from the county council and Harold Bodmer, the director of adult social services. We just felt we still had questions left over from the last meeting and more answers which we wanted.

“On Saturday we had 473 sign the petition, added to about 10 pages from when we went out in Anglia Square, while the Silver Rooms have got more than 280 names on their petition.

“Coming from a ward councillor perspective, the Silver Rooms are a fantastic place and I can't believe they are even considering closing them.

“We want to see all parties joining us at the public meeting so we can all stop these centres from closing.”

Campaigners will be back in Norwich city centre again tomorrow collecting more signatures for the petitions.

The county council has promised full consultation and has said it will start on Monday, December 14. People keen to register their interest for receiving a consultation document in the meantime can contact Yolanda Sumner on 01603 228847 or email Yolanda.sumner@norfolk.gov.uk

Will you or your loved ones be affected by the closure of the day centres? Tell us your stories by calling Evening News reporter Dan Grimmer on 01603 772375 or email dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk

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