CLLR SLAMS LABOUR PLANS FOR ASHWORTH COURT (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

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

CLLR SLAMS LABOUR PLANS FOR ASHWORTH COURT

February 28, 2007 4:01 AM

Residential home would stand derelict for five years under Labour warns previous social services head

CLLR SLAMS LABOUR PLANS FOR ASHWORTH COURT

Cllr Dennis Hullock (Lib Dem, Dewsbury East) has attacked Labour councillors over their plans for Ashworth Court Residential Care Home in Dewsbury saying that they would mean the home standing derelict for the next five years.

Labour plans were tabled at today's Annual Council Budget Meeting.

"Labour's proposals are totally unacceptable and deeply concerning" says Cllr Hullock "On the one hand, they are saying that they'll halt the sale of Ashworth Court and re-instate Lib Dem plans to build a state of the art care home on the site. All of this I agree with, but, on the other hand, they are proposing that the building not go ahead for another 4 four years. This means that people wouldn't receive any care at Ashworth Court for at least five years!" (1).

"What is even more concerning is Labour haven't actually put enough money into the budget for the running of the new home in its first year. In truth, they're about £450,000 short! Financially, they seem to have lost the plot or aren't actually serious about whet they're proposing. If they were serious, they would have surely put the required amount in to back up their intent" (2).

"I'm worried all this is just hot air so they can pull a fast one on residents allowing them to say they'd do this "if they were in charge" but without actually having anything to back them up. If this is what they're doing, its very cynical thing to do. People need honesty and openness from its local politicians especially over vital services such as social care for the elderly".

"Where were they when I was challenging the Tories at Cabinet over this decision in December?" Concluded Cllr Hullock.