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Published: 20 August, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

ISLINGTON’S Liberal Democrat leader has been forced to lobby his own party colleagues in government after embarrassing cuts to children’s playground projects.

Councillor Terry Stacy said yesterday (Thursday) he had already begun talking to ministers after the government froze refurbishment and rebuilding work at ten play sites. It follows the hacking back of the last government’s Playbuilder investment programme.

Cllr Stacy blamed Labour’s financial acumen for the cuts but admitted he had already begun the task of asking his senior Lib Dem colleagues to show the playgrounds mercy.

He said: “One of the schemes is in my ward and I’m lobbying with residents to get that money reinstated.”

Work had already begun on four of the playgrounds, but a start was still to be made on six – Myddelton Square, Arundel Square, Ringcross estate,
 May­ville estate, Highbury Quadrant estate
 and Quill Street estate. Labour Caledonian ward councillor Rupert Perry said: “We’ve got to be creative and think of other ways of getting the money. When this all happened, officers were sending around emails on spending more money on speed humps. But maybe we have other priorities. In an ideal world the Lib Dems would be lobbying their government over things like this. They have a link to Parliament. This is something useful they could do.”

Cllr Stacy, who thrust himself into a campaign to save an old people’s centre from cuts (see below) said: “I’m disappointed and frustrated that excellent projects like this are being sacrificed to pay for promises that the Labour government shouldn’t have promised if they didn’t have the cash. We’ve already started lobbying  government ministers about the cutbacks.

“But I am disappointed and that’s why I’m lobbying to get the funding.

“Along with residents I wrote to Michael Gove and Sarah Teather this morning.”

While Labour councilors run the Town Hall it is the Lib Dems who have colleagues in government and face pressure to win the argument with fellow members for Islington. Parents said they have been left anxious that their children will be left with nowhere to play.

Mother-of-four Susie Graves, who lives in Arundel Square, Holloway, said that the park there was undergoing a separate £1million upgrade, but £77,000 improvements to the  play area for over-sevens had now been put on hold.

She said: “Children used the old playground every single day.  Many kids live right on the square and there are schools and nurseries nearby. Most people don’t have gardens. It’s tough times.”

Another parent, Cheri Francillia, who has two children, said: “There are a lot of children over seven in the neighbourhood. What about them? I guess they’ll have to play on equipment for under-sevens or be bored.”

But Labour councillor Paul Convery said the playground battle was far from lost. 

“Cameron’s sidekick Clegg is talking about fairness and helping the poor yet they are implementing cuts which target these very groups.   We’re looking for a wangle that can cream off the money that would otherwise be spent on less important things – perhaps through Section 106 money from developers. We need places which bind people together.”

Day centre for elderly closure fears

ONE of Islington’s best-loved day centres for the elderly is facing an uncertain future.

Sotheby Mews, in Highbury, may have to shut because Islington Council can no longer pay Age Concern the £166,000 needed to run it.

The club, which can attract up to 90 people a day, runs a full programme of activities, including bingo, bowls, ballroom dancing, sing-alongs and keep fit.

A bus takes visitors to the supermarket every Tuesday and day trips are planned.

The centre has an arts and crafts room, lounge, hall where hot meals are served five days a week, TV room and garden where vegetables are grown. 

But council officials have told the centre’s board that it may have to close. There are fears that the council wants to sell the building and run activities in other venues nearby.

But staff warn that the centre is much more than just a place for activities. One said: “They come for an activity and then they end up staying for the day. They benefit from much more than they realise. If they need a doctor’s appointment, legal advice or want to speak to social services, we show them how.”

Board chairman Henry Bourner, who is organising a petition, said: “People come here for the company and a hot meal. If they shut the place it’s going to kill a lot of the older ones. This is a very good day centre. I’ve got a strong feeling the council is after the property.” 

The board has considered introducing a membership fee to try to help raise funds but Mr Bourner is worried it will put too much pressure on stretched pensions.

He said: “If they have to pay £9 a week, for example, and then another £3 a day for a meal, that’s a huge wedge of their pension.”

In winter, visitors take advantage of the warm centre while saving money on heating at home.

Highbury East Lib Dem councillor Terry Stacy, who lives nearby, said: “Labour claims to protect the vulnerable. But in less than a month we have seen Labour councillors cut £2.8million from Islington children’s services, £3million from Islington tenants and now they are closing pensioners’ day centres.”

Adult social services chief Labour councillor Janet Burgess said: “Age Concern are in discussions with the management committee because savings do have to be made. We’ve just been hit with this huge £7million cut this year and there’s more to come.

“We haven’t said anything definite. We’re still in discussions. I want the people who are using the service to carry on having a service. 

“At this stage it’s not clear if it will be exactly the same.”

Cllr Burgess is meeting Age Concern next month to discuss the future of the centre.