More than 300 signatures against closure of Chadwell Heath day centre but ‘no more consultation’, says council
A worker from a Chadwell Heath dementia centre being shut down by Redbridge Council has collected more than 300 signatures in a petition to halt the closure.
Eddie Allen, of Chigwell, works as a freelance therapist with elderly people at day care centres across Redbridge, including the Living Well Resource Centre in Chadwell Heath Lane.
She said: “It’s shocking that they are shutting it down, it’s such a wonderful place.
“I got to a lot of places but the staff there are absolutely amazing.
“They don’t stick people in front of the television – they play games, they exercise, they do everything and it’s wonderful to see.”
The centre provides a range of day services for people living with the illness and their carers but it is being axed as part of a budget cut of more than £500,000.
Other centres for the elderly at Kielder Close, in Hainault and Mulberry Lodge, in Barkingside, are also being closed along with supported accommodation for young people with mental illnesses in Newbury Park.
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But Eddie believes transferring services to one centre will limit support and cause stress for the elderly users and their families.
A council spokesman said the closure of the Living Well Resource Centre is “not subject to further public consultation”.
He added: “It agreed when council set its Budget in February 2013 and residents have had the opportunity to express their views on this matter as part of the budget consultation.”
He said the service would be “reprovided” elsewhere.
