Modernisation of services for people with learning disabilities

The final phase of development of day centres for people with learning disabilities was given the green light by councillors on 1 October.

It means that the final remaining large day centre, Wheatfields in Whitefield, will be replaced by a number of community base venues in Bury, Radcliffe and Prestwich, and possibly Whitefield as well. They will have the ability to cater for more customers than presently.

The modernisation of the day service has already seen the successful replacement of other large and outdated centres such as William Kemp Heaton, Whittle Pike and Seedfield. Customers who used to receive a service from these sites now receive day support in smaller community settings, closer to their own homes. This means that people are able to connect more readily with their own community and do not have to travel far to receive the service.

Modern centres including Sunnybank, Elton, and The Green at Clarence Park have been developed to provide integrated community facilities which act as valuable meeting points and events venues in
their locality.

A council spokesman said: “Our approach has been to identify existing buildings and look at how we could refresh and reinvigorate them to be a base for the service and an improved resource for the local community. We want to do the same with the venues which will replace Wheatfields.”

The replacement venues include Hoyles Park bowling pavilion in Bury, Bolton Road Park bowling pavilion in Radcliffe, and a building in Fairfax Road, Prestwich. The option of a fourth venue in either Whitefield or Prestwich is also being explored. These sites have been chosen partly because they faced an uncertain future otherwise.

Modernisation and renovation work at the new venues will cost nearly £520,000, to be funded from the sale of the Wheatfields site.

Councillor Rishi Shori, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It’s a win-win situation. We don’t want to be creating ‘stand alone’ facilities that create separation. We need to invest in what we already have and breathe newlife into sites which already play a valuable role in their community. I’m delighted that we can now see a time when the modernisation of buildings will be complete and all of our customers can be supported in venues which are modern, fresh, and vibrant.”

He added: “As with all of our previous modernisations, we will fully involve and consult our customers and their families in deciding the most appropriate venue for them in the future, and we won’t close the doors at Wheatfields until the last customer and staff member have moved to their new facility.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 10 October 2014.