£4.7m plan to set up adult social care hub in Bridport

Dorset County Council has moved to allay fears over the future of adult social care facilities in Bridport. The council’s Cabinet was today being asked to approve an investment of £4.7 million in the town over the next four years.

Concerns were raised after the county adult and community services overview committee in said last month that some of the buildings in Bridport – such as the those housing the Oh Crumbs Café staffed by people with learning disabilities, Bridport Special Education Centre and the Fisherman’s Arms day care centre – could be surplus to requirements in the future.

The council has reviewed of all its buildings and thinks services would be cheaper and better by having all of them in one place.

If the cabinet agrees there will then be community consultation later in the year.

Coun Hilary Cox, cabinet member for community services at Dorset County Council, said: “I would like to make it clear that we are looking to improve, not close services.

“If agreed, the capital investment will help us look at how we can make best use of our buildings and enable us to develop proposals further.

“One of the options is to develop a community hub which would provide the day services the local community need in an accessible location.

“The current premises are frankly not fit for purpose and service users deserve better. “By looking at all our premises together in the round we hope to provide this. “However, the proposals are still in very early stages and will take some time to develop.”

The proposals being discussed today do not include Sidney Gale residential home, which is being looked at as part of the residential care review across the whole of Dorset.

Estimates are that it would cost £14million to replace it.

Town and district councillor Ros Kayes is calling for a cross-party campaign to ensure there continues to be a purpose-built home for elderly people in Bridport.

She has asked for officers from the county to come to the town council’s next environment and social wellbeing and for the county council to involve the town council in any decisions it makes.

Bridport Labour Party members were also in Bridport town centre on Saturday morning asking shoppers to sign their petition against the cuts to day care provision.