A voice for the people of Haltwhistle
Hexham Courant
Old folks’ club ‘overpriced’
By RUTH LOGNONNE
Last updated at 10:11, Friday, 09 July 2010
A NEW social centre in Haltwhistle for the elderly is being set up to fail, town councillors fear.
The £24 a head cost of the facility at the town’s hospital site will put it out of the reach of most pensioners, according to Coun. John Watson.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of the town council, Coun. Watson said: “It seems to me the county council doesn’t want day care back in Haltwhistle. It is are just using stalling tactics.
“We know so little about it except that it’s £24 a head which is a hell of a lot of money.
“You can’t even drop in and have a chat with anybody or have a game of dominoes without being charged a fortune.”
Town council chairman Coun. Alan Sharp, said he had received complaints about the cost.
He said he had written letter to the county council asking for a breakdown of prices for the different services, but the reply was “highly evasive.”
He said: “If we don’t encourage people to use the service, then it’s not going to last.”
However, county councillor, Ian Hutchinson, pointed out that the service was not being provided by the county council, but by the charity ADAPT.
Northumberland County Council has always said that it can’t afford to provide day care facilities in Haltwhistle, since the service at Greenholme closed last year.
The county council has only promised to support the venture for six months, in the hope that it will become self-financing.
He told residents that the new facility should not be confused with day care in the traditional sense.
“It’s called a day club, not a day care centre,” he said. “Day care, as we know it, doesn’t exist anymore and I’m worried folk in Haltwhistle are getting the wrong idea about what it is.
“There’s a lot of confusion over day care, extra care and who pays for what.
“However, elderly people can still receive financial and physical assistance if they require it.
“If they’re rich enough and they’re fit enough and they want to use the day club, then they’ve got to pay the full whack.
“I have to admit, it’ll be cheaper for them to go to a coffee shop with friends.”
Coun. Hutchinson also denied reports that old folk in Haltwhistle had been given a “use it or lose it” ultimatum over their brand new facility.
“It’s not been cast in stone for six months,” he said. “That’s just how long it’s being funded by the county council. Hopefully ADAPT can continue to run it after that.
“We desperately need a facility like this in the west and I sincerely hope it continues to operate once funding from the county council has stopped.”
Coun. Hutchinson also gave a glimmer of hope to the people of Haltwhistle when he announced that a new extra-care housing scheme at the town’s redundant Greenholme site was almost certain to go ahead.
He said: “The tenders have now been received and a decision will be made in the next few months.
“When the new Greenholme is up and running, we hope to move the day club into there.”
Councillor Ian Hutchinson is confused yet again he like most of the county councillors so many hidden agendas they don’t no whether they are coming or going they must remember they were elected by the people for the people to run the county council not the officers but you lot are crazy you believe everything you are told without question its a bit like the pied piper of Hamlet there you go as happy as Larry skipping down the road following the officers who are playing a tune on their magic flutes while you lot sing a nice song called TO THE BANK ITS PAYDAY.
Councillor Ian Hutchinson might I make a suggestion go back to perverse page day care at the bottom are some links have a good read and be enlightened.