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Cllr Andrew Cornwell |
Colleagues clash over merger of day centres
‘This is half-baked, back-of-envelope stuff” jibe
A ROW has broken out between two senior Town Hall cabinet members over plans to merge two mental health day centres.
In an outburst that shocked onlookers at last week’s council executive meeting, finance chief Councillor Andrew Cornwell accused his Lib Dem colleague Councillor John Gilbert, the Town Hall’s adult social services chief, of rushing through proposals scrawled “on the back of an envelope”.
The cracks began to appear in the Lib Dems’ normally tight circle when Cllr Cornwell attacked plans to shut Ashley Road day centre, in Crouch Hill, Stroud Green, and move clients to the Afro-Caribbean Lambo Centre, in Despard Road, Archway.
In a last-minute change, seconds before the meeting was due to start, Cllr Gilbert redrafted the proposals so Ashley Road centre could remain in use for a little longer until the move is finalised.
An outraged Cllr Cornwell said: “This proposal is half-baked, back-of-the-envelope
stuff, with so many questions unanswered and so much more work needed.”
He said he was not opposed to selling off buildings, adding: “I think I have sold off more properties than anyone in the history of Islington... It is common ground between John and myself that this proposal is not about saving money. The council does not need the £30,000 saving proposed.
“This is back-to-front thinking – because one building is so popular because of its unique environment and tranquil qualities, and another is not, because of its awful institution-like qualities, we close the popular one.”
He accused Cllr Gilbert of having an “outdated and patronising attitude” and showing a complete “lack of understanding of mental health”.
Users of Ashley Road also made their voices heard at last week’s meeting. One regular, Peter Djerkallis, told councillors: “It’s not like you can treat us like cattle and put us on a conveyor belt. This is what we feel you’re doing to us.
“You’re saying you’re sending us to a place next to suicide [Archway] bridge. We can’t handle the stress. If I had to be at Lambo looking at suicide bridge I wouldn’t go there. Ashley Road is a big family. There’s no garden at Lambo, it’s an institution. We won’t go there.”
Patsy Keane, who also uses Ashley Road, said roses had been planted in the grounds in memory of lost friends. The garden had sentimental value and had helped with her therapy.
Peter Jones, from Islington Borough Users Group, asked Cllr Gilbert to consider keeping the Ashley Road building so it could still be used, even if it was only open once or twice a week. He said: “If they [service users] thought Ashley Road was open to them so they could drop in, the feeling of being excluded would be much less.”
Cllr Gilbert said: “In the north of the borough we’ve got to balance things. We’ve got Despard Road, which is woefully under-used and also, less than a kilometre away, Ashley Road, which is overcrowded, less accessible and in very poor condition.
“This is not about selling off Ashley Road and pocketing the proceeds and it’s not about making savings in the running of the service... I’m happy to say these funds will be used to get people back into training and tackle the issue of worklessness.”
Councillors voted in favour of the merger proposals but supporters of Ashley Road will have one last chance to object because Labour have “called in” the decision, which means it will be discussed by the next council overview committee. |
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