Worcestershire | Archive | 2004 | July | 5
From the archive, first published Monday 5th Jul 2004.
DISABLED users of the Unity House Day Centre are considering suing Worcestershire County Council for up to £36m, following news that the facility could shut.
The 36 members of the Users' Group say their human rights could be affected by the move, which could see the Stanley Road building closing within 18 months, after 40 years of serving the community.
The Users' Group Chairman, Edward Williams, of Droitwich said: "For each of us that takes this option, we will sue for £1m each.
"This is not because we want to take it this way, but because we want everyone to realise the fact that we will use every means at our disposal to fight."
Mr Williams, aged 52, who uses an electric wheelchair following a work accident, said the group had been told by Worcestershire Council that Unity House could close in 18 months time.
Activities currently enjoyed by the Users' Group at the Centre, such as computer classes, arts and crafts and gardening, would take place elsewhere, in various locations in the area.
Venues could include church halls and other community buildings.
But Mr Williams said this could take freedom of choice away from group members by limiting variety in available activities on a day-to-day basis.
He believes that could be an infringement of human rights.
He added: "Unity House is a vital part of the community. It's on one level. There's everything in one building and we can interact with people.
"We have our own car park, disabled facilities, hoist, bath, shower and laundrette.
"Unity House is council-owned. They don't have to rent it. I can't see the point of scrapping all this and starting afresh."
A question mark hangs over the future of Unity House following a Best Value Review action plan approved by Worcesterershire County Council's Cabinet in June, 2003.
The plan's aim is to "help disabled people make more use of community facilities, resources and employment opportunities, and be less dependent on segregated day centres".
The Sandalwood Day Centre in Kidderminster is already earmarked for closure, as part of this "rolling programme".
A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said consultation with members would now be brought forward because of the concerns.
"Nothing happens until we have first had a thorough consultation period with service users and we were looking at consulting with those at Unity House in the autumn," he said.
"But because an individual service user has expressed concerns over this, we will be bringing the consultation period forward.
"We must stress that nothing has been finally decided in respect of service changes and it would therefore be inappropriate for us to comment further prior to the conclusion of the consultation period."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008