Labour Lambeth Council is threatening to axe state-of-the-art Redfearn Day Centre for teenagers with severe learning problems. It was opened only last year in a blaze of publicity with funding from the government's Private Finance Initiative.
"This is a disgraceful and under hand blow against some of our most vulnerable young people, their parents, and carers," says Conservative Group Leader Cllr John Whelan. "The Redfearn Centre is a lifeline for them."
The Redfearn Centre is a provision for young adults aged 16-19 with special educational needs attached to the new
"There has been no consultation whatever with users of the centre which already has a waiting list for future users," says Cllr Whelan. "Neither was this matter ever reported to the previous Lib Dem and Conservative leadership of the Council."
"Labour are back to the same tactics that they used between 1998 and 2002 in closing facilities for children with special needs," says Cllr Whelan. "In 2000 they closed a £1 million special needs nursery for disabled children, which had been opened by former Education Minister David Blunkett and the Labour MP Tessa Jowell."
Parents and carers of young people attending the Redfearn Centre have called an emergency meeting to discuss the plans.
This issue in the news
'Our sons don't count' - South London Press, Friday 16th June 2006 [PDF]
Mums of special needs teenagers angry at project closure - South London Press, Friday 16th June 2006 [Web]
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