Needlessly: More Day Centres to close in Ealing

Last night, Ealing's council's cabinet took a number of decisions. The first was the most crucial...

Again we saw the Labour, who speak of protecting the vulnerable, do not follow through with the correct actions. Check out the list of five priorities - nothing about helping our elderly and vulnerable residents.

Whether in difficult financial times or not, the Liberal Democrats have said that cuts should not be made to the vulnerable. In this opening remarks, the Leader of the Council, before closing the Learning Curve and Stirling Road day centres, he said it was: "almost impossible," [not to close the two day centres].

Almost impossible = It is possible to avoid closing them.

The car park costs about £5.5 million

And the Liberal Democrats have shown that by cancelling the build of a £5 million car park this would allow for the retention of the two day centres. There were options for altering the staffing at the two day centres and making some savings which would not affect the users. Those options sadly appear not to have been looked into as much as they should have.

Campaign to save Ealing's Day Centres

I asked the Leader of the Council about the choice between a car park or protecting the many disabled residents that use the two day centres. I think his expression gave away his thoughts.

The Liberal Democrat Group are "calling in" the decision so that it can be delayed or hopefully reversed. This is just two in a series of previous day centre closures that will affect, in a negative way, many residents lives.


Two other items were discussed at the meeting which may be interesting to read about >

• Ealing Cinema - Many of you will know that Empire have promised after getting planning permission to build a cinema on the opposite side of the road from Ealing Town Hall, but have not delivered. Ealing Council moved a step closer to ensuring that the site (owned by Empire) can be used to build a cinema by Land Securities. Although we may be some way off seeing Land Securities build a cinema, it may prompt Empire to do the decent thing?

• Promoting more recycling in Ealing - Coalition government's money is to be used to increase the recycling rate in Ealing. This will be done by encouraging more residents to recycling more kitchen waste. There will also be a scheem to give prizes to people or streets who are good recyclers. The details have not been agreed yet. I will update you as there is more news on this.