VIDEO: Closure date set for disabled centre

12:50pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008

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MEMBERS and staff of a disabled resource centre were angered yesterday to hear it will shut in three months time.

Campaigners have been trying for a year to prevent the closure of the Queen Elizabeth Foundation Resource Centre, Brent Way, Dartford.

Yesterday they were told funding would end on October 17, so it would need to close.

The centre is run by the Queen Elizabeth Foundation (QEF) but its building and funding come from KCC who have decided to close it and replace it with other services.

It is uncertain what will happen to the 19 members of staff who work there. They have entered into a two-week consultation period with the foundation.

In June more than 70 people went to Maidstone to protest outside Kent County Council (KCC) headquarters over unsuitable' plans for new centres.

One of the organisers, 42-year-old Sonia Mallion, of Oliver Road, Swanley, said she was upset that KCC had failed to listen to their concerns about the places some of the services would be moved to.

These include the Riverside centre, Dickens Road, Gravesend and the Discovery Centre at Swan Valley Community School, Swanscombe.

Ms Mallion said: "We really feel that QEF and Kent have let us down."

KCC have said that activities and opportunities that are currently focused on the resource centre in Dartford will be replaced by a range of opportunities at more local venues in Swanley, Dartford and Gravesend.

KCC cabinet member for Kent Adult Social Services, Councillor Kevin Lynes, said: "This change will mean a modernised service for physically disabled people.

"Segregation for adult education, leisure and recreation is outdated and is quite rightly rejected by the vast majority of disabled people.

"We are therefore launching a service based in local centres that are extensively used by local communities, and working with our partners to improve access to community facilities for all disabled people."

QEF chief executive of Cynthia Robinson said: "QEF has worked closely with KCC, offering advice and guidance on the development of services to support disabled people on a continuing journey towards independence.

"The closure will also have an impact on our highly-experienced, loyal staff and volunteers at the Centre.

"The forthcoming weeks will be challenging for many people. "But I should like to offer my assurance that Queen Elizabeth's Foundation will do its utmost to ensure that all the staff, clients and volunteers will receive the benefit of the charity's support throughout the period."