Relief as Highbarn saved from axe

A ROYTON pensioner is celebrating after Oldham Council backed down on proposals to close the Highbarn Day Centre.

The Royton-based facility, which provides front line services for older people, including dementia sufferers, was facing the axe to help bridge the council’s £20m budget deficit.

But council chiefs have now confirmed they have secured enough savings in other areas to enable them to keep Highbarn open — much to the delight of the people who rely on it.

Freda Eason (64), whose 100-year-old mother Hilda Wright regularly visits Highbarn, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to hear the centre will stay open.

“I’m really pleased that the council has recognised the importance of the work that goes on at the Highbarn Day Centre in keeping the lines of communication open and allowing visitors to live a contented and happy life.

“Knowing your loved one is happy in the appropriate daycare makes a huge difference and gives families that vital peace of mind.”

When it emerged the centre could be for the chop, Freda, of Alpine Drive, Royton, quickly rallied around and gathered 500 signatures within a matter of days.

A series of consultation events in January attracted scores of people, as council bosses and service users tried to thrash out its future.

Cabinet member for adult services and health, Councillor Brian Lord, said: “Not unnaturally, we never wanted to close the centre, given the excellent service it provides, but with such a large budget gap to close we had to be realistic and keep it on the list until we could find the money to keep it open.

“Anything else would have been dishonest.

“We highly value the public’s views and we have listened to what people have said and have acted appropriately on that.”

Council leader Howard Sykes said: “I have always hoped that we might avoid closing Highbarn Day Centre, but in the early days of tackling our budget deficit, it was difficult to see how we could avoid such unpalatable measures, and I had to be open and honest about it.

“I am delighted that we have made sufficient progress to commit to keeping Highbarn open. An all-party working group was unanimous in making the centre a top priority.

“We still need to find money to modernise it — one reason it was under threat — but we will tackle that separately.”

Age Concern Oldham, which provided an advocate service for service users during the consultations, said they were delighted with the news.

Carol Richards, a project manager at Age Concern Oldham, said: “It is fantastic news. We are so pleased for the family and friends of the service users, who conducted such a good campaign.

“We are pleased that the local authority consulted these people and have taken on board their views.”