Centre doomed before it opens; Fresh anger at day care proposals.

Byline: Dave Black 

GROWING anger at plans to close care homes sparked claims that a flagship pounds 7m housing project would be undermined by the move.

Work is nearing completion on the extra care housing scheme at The Manors in Prudhoe, which will provide supported accommodation for 46 elderly and disabled people. It is the first project of its kind in the county and attracted more than pounds 4m in Government funding.

Part of the complex is intended to be a new day care centre for the elderly, re-providing a facility currently located at the town's Oakland House.

Now that element of the scheme is at risk of being scrapped, because Oakland House is one of seven day centres which the county council is proposing to close as part of a shake-up of adult care.

The Liberal Democrat-led authority is consulting on closing centres in Amble, Bedlington, Blyth, Ponteland, Prudhoe, Hexham and Haltwhistle. Instead, it wants to give elderly clients "personal budgets" to spend on getting out of the house and taking part in activities of their choosing.

The Government approved the Prudhoe extra care housing project more than two years ago, after a successful business case was submitted by the then Labour-led county council.

Yesterday Labour town councillor Tony Reid, who was the county council's executive member for adult services at the time, said: "It was always intended that a brand new day care centre for Prudhoe would be part of this extra care housing scheme and a specific area was set aside for that.

"It seems to me very misguided, after making this successful bid and commissioning the work, to be planning to close the day centre before it has even opened. I am totally surprised and flabbergasted by these proposals." A county council spokesman said: "The bid for Government funding for The Manors extra care development was submitted three years ago and did include proposals for public areas to provide a communal hub through a range of different activities and partnerships.

"Since then, however, the Government's Putting People First document has been published and presented other options rather than transferring a traditional day centre."

PUBLIC meetings on the plans will be held this week on Wednesday at Prudhoe Community High School; on Thursday at Ponteland Community High School; and on Friday at Trinity Methodist Church, Hexham. All meetings will start at 6pm.

There will be more meetings next week.

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