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MP Jeremy Corbyn |
Petition protest at day centre merger
Concern at impact on work with mentally ill
PLANS to merge two mental health day centres were put on hold this week amid claims that the proposals amount to “asset stripping”.
The Ashley Road Day Centre in Crouch Hill, Stroud Green, is due to be closed and sold off. Users will have to attend Lambo Centre, more than two miles away in Despard Road, Archway.
Islington Mind charity has organised a 70-signature petition against the merger, which is opposed by users of both centres.
A last-minute Town Hall decision yesterday (Thursday) means a decision on the plans is being delayed for a month to allow more debate.
Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn has criticised the Islington Council plan, which is backed by Islington Primary Care Trust.
Mr Corbyn accused the council of “asset stripping”.
He added: “Lambo has done a good job over a very long time supporting members of the Afro-Caribbean community with mental health problems.
“Likewise, I welcome the work at Ashley Road among users who would otherwise lead stressful and isolated lives.
“Ashley Road centre needs some structural improvements but I would rather see that than have it sold off in what looks like asset stripping of a valuable property.”
Omole Babson, from Lambo Centre, said the centre had always prided itself on its work with the Afro-Caribbean community.
He added: “Inevitably, there will be a diminution of our work under the merger.
“What makes it worse is that the people from Ashley Road don’t appear to want to come. They are very happy where they are.
“We are two different centres catering for different needs. We don’t know who is coming and on which days. It’s all a bit of a mess.”
Arguments for the merger are made in a report by Islington social services, which maintained that Lambo was under-used.
The report said that an average of 10-12 people a day used Lambo Centre, although mental health users from the black and minority ethnic communities are “significantly over-represented” in the borough’s inpatient wards.
The Ashley Road Centre, based in a Victorian house in a busy street, was said to be facing overcrowding.
Peter Jones, from Islington Borough Users Group, said that users want the services to remain as they are.
“We don’t know how many extra people will attend Lambo,” he added.
“We’re still negotiating about this. We’re taking it calmly. But generally people would like things to stay as they are.”
More than £4million has been cut from Islington mental health service in the past two years.
Lib Dem social services chief Councillor John Gilbert said yesterday that, as a result of protests about the merger, further time is being given to discuss the plans. |
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