County Council's Lack of Decision could hit Vulnerable (South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@secambslibdems.org.uk>

County Council's Lack of Decision could hit Vulnerable

November 20, 2009 6:18 PM

Worried Liberal Democrats are calling on county council officials to make a decision on the future of Ely's Larkfield Centre and Croylands after fears that they could be lost to the city forever.

Plans to sell off the Victorian Croylands building on Cambridge Road and merge with the Larkfield Centre for adults with learning disabilities have ground to a halt because of lack of money.

Now Cambridgeshire County Council is investigating the possibility of moving the services out of Ely to Cambridge .

Lib Dems are worried that this decision and the closure of the city's Sue Ryder home could hit some of the area's most vulnerable people.

Ely South and East Liberal Democrat County Councillor Sue Austen said of Larkfield and Croylands: "We are not being told what is happening. The county council is dithering and messing with people's lives and no-one knows what the future holds.

"Croylands provides crucial support services for people with mental health issues and the Larkfield Centre used to be a vibrant meeting place. But staff at both places have been left disillusioned and face uncertainty over their futures.

"The county council must stop dragging its feet and get this issue resolved. If these services are to be taken away from the city there are serious implications for people living locally and their carers."

The Liberal Democrats' plea for a resolution has been echoed by the carers of people using the Larkfield Centre.

They said of the centre in a statement to the county council: "Two years ago this building was buzzing with vibrancy and was the happening place to be. But, since the threat or closure and/or merger this has dwindled into lethargy.

"The staff do their best but with no new service users being integrated in or offered Larkfield as they approach adulthood and no money being spent, they are becoming disillusioned.

"We feel, therefore, that the time has come that a decision must be made to encourage growth in Larkfield to bring back the excellence that we know it has."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman, Geoffrey Heathcock, is worried about residents at the Sue Ryder Home whose stay is not paid for by Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust.

He said there needs to be reassurances about their futures and future arrangements for respite care in Ely.

"These are extremely vulnerable folk," he said, "and while we understand the reasons behind the closure of this resource, every possible effort must be made now to ensure their future is absolutely assured with full care."