Yearsley closure: ‘Parents did know’

7:51am Monday 27th November 2006

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PARENTS were informed in advance that the future of a York day care was under review, council leader Steve Galloway claimed today.

Coun Galloway said three letters had been sent out to users of Yearsley Bridge Centre over the past 18 months.

He said: "Customers have been aware for a long time that service provision at Yearsley/Huntington Road was under review".

He also claimed a modernization programme for council services enjoyed widespread support, as well as being in line with current Government policy.

He said neither he nor Coun Sue Galloway, executive member for adult social services, had received any representations or complaints from users about the council's consultation arrangements.

His comments came after a number of relatives of centre users have complained to The Press that they were neither informed nor consulted about a decision to close down the centre, which is used by about 70 learning disabled adults.

Pauline and David Waterworth, of Tang Hall, whose son, Darren, has attended the centre for 19 years, said earlier this month that they had only discovered Yearsley was closing when they attended the centre's 25th birthday and they were told about it by another handicapped customer. They said they were "gobsmacked" by the news and they should have been consulted.

But Coun Galloway produced a copy of a letter which he said had been sent out to Yearsley customers and their families last November by Anne Bygrave, head of learning disabilities service.

She said: "I am writing to tell you about the work we are planning to do to look at the future of the Yearsley Bridge Centre."

She said there were plans to appoint a project worker from April 2006 to look at all of the options for the centre's future. "As part of this person's job they will need to talk to and work with the customers of Yearsley Bridge Centre, their families, staff groups and other interested people before making any proposals about what the future may hold."

Another letter she sent out last December told people that permission to appoint the project manager post from April 2006 had been given, and a third letter in February said the project manager would be contacting parents, carers and customers and will also have discussions with the staff from the Yearsley Bridge Centre about how to look at the future of the centre.

But Mr Waterworth insisted today he had never received any letters, and had only been informed what was going on by the council since The Press highlighted the matter.