No Age Concern consultation as yet

Regular readers, and all those concerned about day care facilities in Audlem and elsewhere in Cheshire East, will know that today, 22nd April, is an important date.

It's said to be the day the trustees of Age Concern Cheshire are scheduled to be deciding whether to axe the existing provision for day care and lunches for elderly local people at Thornton House off Cheshire Street. A consultation exercise is meant to have taken place with users of the day care facilities over the past ten days.

This consultation does not appear to have taken place. Ian Whalley wrote on the Audlem Online Chatbox yesterday, saying: "The Day Care for the Elderly met today. Promises by Age Concern to consult with attendees about closure of this facility have not been carried out. None have been consulted. The decision, by the trustees is on Thursday 22nd."

Letters urging Age Concern Cheshire to think again have been sent by Audlem Parish Council and the Audlem Medical Practice Patients' group. We understand that Cheshire East LINk have also sent a very strong letter in protest at Age Concern's plans. Local MP Stephen O'Brien has also been involved in the protests.

Audlem Online has now written twice to AGE Concern Cheshire's chief executive with questions. As yet, no answer has been forthcoming.

If the trustees do make a decision to axe the day care facilities today it will be a move made without the promised consultation. Jill Walter, the chief executive, in letters to users says that there will phone calls and visits as part of the consultation. That process was to start on 12th April. Yet it hasn't happened.

Surely the trustees have no choice but defer a decision and hopefully think again about changes to their service which will have a very adverse effect on local elderly people. Let's hope they see sense and hold back on decisions to cut a vital service. If not, they will be faced with a barrage of protest about the way their decision was taken.

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