Families take legal action over day centre closure

Parents whose grown-up children use a day centre threatened with closure are taking legal action to try to save it.

Buckinghamshire Council is planning to shut the Burnham centre near Slough as part of a reorganisation of services for adults with complex needs.

Campaigners are seeking a judicial review of the decision and an injunction to prevent the closure until the legal process has finished.

The council said the decision followed a democratic process and it was working closely with the families affected.

Councillors voted in September to close the Burnham centre as well as one in High Wycombe.

They also agreed to turn a similar centre in Buckingham into a college facility for people with special educational needs.

Lesley Honey-Green's 38-year-old daughter, Jeni, spends six hours a day at the Burnham centre, which gives her mother a break.

She added: "I don't want her to be in an environment where the staff don't know her and don't understand.

"They freak out because they're not experienced enough."

Ms Honey-Green has been told her daughter will have to go to Seeley's day centre in Beaconsfield instead.

She said Jeni had a "real problem travelling" and the Burnham centre is close to where she lives.

Hazel Howe's son, Thomas, who has severe epilepsy and profound disabilities, has been a regular user of the centre for 13 years.

She said: "We've got good lawyers and we're going for judicial review.

"We're also going to go for an injunction so the Buckinghamshire Council cannot close the day centre and they can't move our loved ones, and they can't move the staff."

She added that councillors had "never listened to what we've got to say".

"They've never met our loved ones - how can they be qualified and experienced to make decisions like this?" she continued.

She believed "somebody has got to be made accountable for putting these families and our loved ones through this dreadful process".

Isobel Darby, Buckinghamshire Council's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "It is not possible for the council to comment on an ongoing legal matter.

"The decision to make changes to our day centres followed a thorough and transparent democratic process.

"During the 15-week public consultation process there was extensive engagement with those affected and wider stakeholders.

"All families and carers affected have been contacted individually by the social worker team to discuss alternative future care options.”

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