MP steps up fight against closure of the Grange day centre
Andrew Tyrie has criticised West Sussex County Council for its handling of plans to bring in a new system of day care in the Midhurst and Petworth area.
The MP has already publicly backed campaigners fighting the decision to axe the Grange day care centre at Midhurst and has now called for assurances vulnerable people will be protected.
Mr Tyrie, together with leading campaigner, the Rev Chris Boxley, has met WSCC’s cabinet member for adult services Peter Catchpole.
Afterwards he said: “This project does seem to have been badly handled. It has also failed to take into account the strength of public opinion. The current arrangements for closure appear to include no clear alternative and there is widespread confusion.
“This is particularly worrying where elderly and vulnerable people are concerned. My constituents need assurances that vulnerable people will be protected and that’s what I will be asking the county council to provide.”
Also at the meeting was Amanda Rogers, director of adult services.
Mr Boxley said: “I had hoped this meeting would offer an opportunity for frank discussion between two elected representatives, an MP and a county councillor, and me as a representative of campaigning residents. So I was disappointed but not surprised that the non-elected officer in charge of the project presented herself.”
He added: “I’m pleased Mr Tyrie agreed the project is being badly managed, and indicated work has to be done to reconcile those unhappy with events, with a view WSCC has the best interests of its citizens protected by what they propose.”
He said the main concern of campaigners was that it appeared individual users of the Grange were being re-assessed and their eligibility to attend the day care programme removed, in line with the model of day care proposed but not yet officially signed by the cabinet member responsible.
“We think this is both wrong and heartless.
“It is disingenuous to say people are assessed and have reached the point where they are ‘moving on’, when the end result is, they are then removed from the register.”
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Weather for Midhurst
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
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