CLLR DEMANDS RE-THINK ON SALE OF ASHWORTH COURT (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

CLLR DEMANDS RE-THINK ON SALE OF ASHWORTH COURT

November 28, 2006 3:13 PM

Councillor Dennis Hullock, Liberal Democrat, Dewsbury East Ward

The Lib Dem Group in Kirklees has submitted a motion to Kirklees council urging the Tory Administration to re-think its decision to sell off Ashworth Court residential care home to the private sector.

Cllr Hullock says: "This motion has been submitted to council in a desperate attempt to get the Tories to reverse their decision and keep a council run residential care home available in the area for the people of Dewsbury. If Ashworth Court is sold off, people will only private sector providers to choose from, which many cannot afford."

Cllr Hullock: "When the Lib Dems were in charge of the council our vision was for an affordable, world class, council run residential care service for older people. On the Ashworth Court site, we were going to build a state of the art home for older people with mental illnesses, such as Alzheimer's. This was a controversial move and the Tories opposed us on every front saying they would keep Ashworth open, were they in charge. Now they are in charge and it goes straight to the highest bidder. I am both saddened and appalled by this disgraceful u-turn".

Cllr Hullock: "Elderly people, especially with those with mental problems, deserve to have access to high quality, affordable council run residential care that caters to their specific needs. Families have the right to know that their parents are safe and well cared for so that they can have peace of mind. Council run care could still guarantee this for some of the most vulnerable in Dewsbury for years to come if the Tories can be persuaded to change their minds".

Cllr Hullock concluded: "The motion the Liberal Democrat group has submitted asks for the Tory Administration to re-instate our plans to build a world class, council run, residential care home for older people with mental health problems on the Ashworth Court site or for them to retain the current council run residential service that is provided at the facility. I hope they will listen and live up to their earlier promises made in the run up to and during the election in May to keep the care home open."