We cannot let down our old people – we owe them

Published: 13 January, 2011

• IT was with a great sense of unease that I read the letters about the threat of closure to the Great Croft Resource Centre (Think again about closing a centre that’s our lifeline, January 6).

How can it be possible that there is no money to keep this priceless centre going, at a time when:

• banks that were bailed out with taxpayers’ money are about to pay billions of pounds in bonuses to their employees;

• an arrangement is reached with HMRC, whereby Vodafone will not have to pay £6billion in taxes;

• thanks to an unfair and immoral legal loophole, the boss of Top Shop/BHS avoids paying huge amounts of tax;

• and top executives of Camden Council, are paid extraordinarily high salaries?

There are more examples – far too many to list. But all show how much money remains in the hands of people who not only do not need it, but cannot possibly ever spend it. 

All this at a time when a centre which is truly a lifeline to some elderly and infirm people is threatened with closure due to the need to save money. 

Save money? How much? Billions?

Those in charge of Camden’s budget should go back to school and study economics. 

The basics will do. 

In some instances, it is said that saving money is, in fact, a false economy, as it results in increased costs – as it would in this case!

It is time to get our priorities right. 

It is time to remember that these elderly citizens have more than earned their right to use this centre. 

Many of them fought in the Second World War, if not on the front line, then by keeping the country going (yes the country) at great effort and sacrifice to themselves. We owe them a lot.

Those who came up with this astonishing proposal, should hang their heads in shame and withdraw the planned closure immediately.

LIZA LOBB
Address supplied, NW3