Save our Day Centres

The Tory county council is threatening to shut West Norfolk day centres for older people. Join the Liberal Democrat campaign to halt the closures.

Local Tories are threatening to withdraw funding from Norfolk day centres for older people, meaning centres in West Norfolk may be forced to close.

The result will be that older people in West Norfolk, particularly those in rural areas, will have their day centres taken away for good.

The Liberal Democrats understand that in these tough economic times, some hard decisions need to be made about spending. It is not right, however, that these much needed services for older people should be up for the chop when they play such an important role in the lives - and the health - of our older citizens.

Amongst those named in the local media as being under threat of closure is the day centre in Burnham Market, which is due to close at the end of March.

North West Norfolk Liberal Democrats parliamentary spokesperson William Summers said:

"It is quite simply a disgrace that these plans have got so far. If the local Tories think they can just pull the funding from our key services regardless of the consequences then they have got a big fight on their hands."

"The council talks about giving choice to older people about how their personal budgets are spent, but if these day centres are shut where is the choice for those who require them? The centres must remain open unless at the very minimum a suitable alternative venue can be found for users."

"I will be pressing the council to review this decision and safeguard these key facilities. I encourage others who feel strongly about it to sign my petition and send a loud and clear message to the county councillors behind this that they must not prioritise budgets over the wellbeing of older residents."