Fears that South Bucks would lose out if day centres are closed (From Bucks Free Press)

Fears that South Bucks would lose out if day centres are closed

2:10pm Wednesday 14th July 2010 in

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WORRIED residents and carers quizzed county bosses about the planned closure of a day centre in Beaconsfield.

Last month Buckinghamshire County Council unveiled proposals to shut Seeleys House and possibly sell it off – along with about 20 other day centres in the county (see link below).

The Campbell Drive facility, which is also a respite unit, is used by more than 100 people.

The council wants to develop two or three bigger facilities in the High Wycombe, Chesham, Amersham and Aylesbury areas, to replace the traditional day centres.

There could also be two smaller facilities in Burnham and Buckingham, while libraries, community centres and other venues could host groups of less dependent users, the council said.

It says the need to save cash is a factor – but believes users want to be more involved in their communities and the move could achieve this.

The council held a consultation meeting at the Fitzwilliam Centre in Beaconsfield yesterday where concerns were raised over staffing and transport to the new facilities.

Alan Walters, who is a town and district councillor for Beaconsfield, said the plan could create a 'two-tier' system where residents in the South Bucks district lose out.

He said: “Burnham is right at the south end of South Bucks - it's a long way and is very difficult for those people to actually get to.”

He referred to the recent introduction of 'personal budgets' for users to access social services saying: “Are they expected to actually pay for their own transport?”

He fears residents in South Bucks would be disadvantaged if this were the case.

David Jones and Trevor Boyd, social services bosses at BCC said transport would be provided to the new 'hubs', but said it is too early to have details on how it will be funded.

Tim Addison, whose severely disabled daughter relies on the services at Seeleys House, told the Bucks Free Press after the meeting: “What's going to happen to the people who use Seeleys House?

The people that use our centre need space and they need continuity.”

He fears the changes could lead to a massive shortage of services, saying the planned 'hubs' are only slightly bigger than Seeley's House.

He said many users would not be capable of going out into the community adding: “I can't relate to [the council's] fictional vision.”

Trevor Boyd, the acting strategic director, adult social care at BCC, insisted that the move would not lead to a lesser service for day centre users.

He said day centres are a 'limited' environment and believes public cafes and information centres in the new facilities could bring users closer to the community.

He said it was also too early to say which organisations would staff the new hubs. Seeleys House is currently staffed by BCC workers, though many day centres are currently staffed by The Red Cross.