Ever since respite care centre, Westminster House, was first earmarked for closure, campaigners have been fighting hard for its retention.
Back in February last year, the Isle of Wight council (IWC) announced plans to close the centre and split the service between Adelaide House in Ryde and The Gouldings in Freshwater.
Campaigners argued that the Freshwater facility was not fit for purpose and that users would be deprived of the wealth of activities afforded to them in Newport.
Being retained in the short term
This afternoon the IWC have announced that the Cabinet
… are being asked to approve new arrangements so that Westminster House will in the short term remain where it is.
This will be at less cost to council tax payers and more affordable to people using it while longer term solutions arising from the consultation are agreed.
Cllr Roger Mazillius, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: “While it would be wrong to pre-empt the decision making process, it would seem that – as we had anticipated – the consultation process has come up with some sound proposals for a way forward that should be acceptable to everyone from those who use the service and their carers to the wider council tax payer.”
Apparently, staff at the facility in Newport have come up with ideas on how to save money and how to generate income in order to keep the facility where it is.
Cllr Mazillius went on the say, “I hope that this proposed outcome will also demonstrate that the Isle of Wight Council does approach consultations with a genuinely open mind and will always take account of the feedback received.”
We’ll report back from the Cabinet meeting next month on the outcome of the discussions.
Image: Harry Staab under CC BY 2.0
