Sponsored by
Controversial day centre sale looms
Plans to close a Berkhamsted day centre dozens of elderly and disabled people depend on have come under fire from Berkhamsted Citizens Association (BCA).
At the end of last year Herts County Council announced that Manor Street Day centre, which caters for 60 residents, was to close and the land be sold off.
Although the site has been in use for almost 20 years, it is classed as a temporary building and the council plans to send anyone who wants continue using the service to centres in Tring and Hemel Hempstead.
Chairman of the BCA, Tony Statham, said: "We deplore the loss of any public amenity space or facilities. While 'selling the family silver' may address a short-term financial need, it will create potential problems for the longer-term."
"The prospect of yet more residential housing without any corresponding expansion of infrastructure facilities exacerbates a growing problem in the town. It means more people and more housing but no expansion in medical or schooling facilities and no increase in parking availability."
Also against the closure is Peter Lardi, of Silverthorn Drive, Hemel Hempstead, who said after hearing the news of the impending closure he wrote to the council asking why planning permission for the centre had not been renewed.
Despite several reminders, six months on Mr Lardi said he still has not had a response.
"This appears to be an example of the public being ignored by those in authority, the closure of Hemel Hempstead Hospital being another recent example," he said.
In response, a spokesman for the county council, Andrew Dawson, said: "Our staff have done their best to provide a very good service at Manor Street in a temporary mobile building, which has caused operational problems in the past.
"The building is not fit for purpose and not designed to be used in the long term."
He explained that planning permission had not been reapplied for because those with dementia and high physical needs cannot be catered for at Manor Street in the long term.
The deadline for offers to buy the land ended today, by Mr Dawson said a lot of interest had been shown in the site.
What do you think? Visit Berkhamsted News at www.hemeltoday.co.uk to leave your views.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
