Pensioners left in limbo

Published: 13 May, 2011

• LAST month, the Tribune carried an article about the Mayville pensioners’ lunch club in the area where I am one of the councillors (Awards bill ‘would save our lunch club’, April 8).

A final decision on the shake-up of elderly lunch clubs in Islington was due last week but this has been stalled by the council, leaving more than 300 pensioners in limbo for at least another six months, including those who use the Mayville.

Labour councillors wanted to push through a review of existing lunch club arrangements. The new contracts were due to start on June 1 but the council has now decided to abandon the tendering process, extend existing lunch club contracts by another six months and then start the tender process again in late autumn.

What a way to treat the elderly. Having scared them into thinking they might lose their lunch clubs, they will now be told they are safe – for now – and then start the whole merry-go-round all over again.  

In the space of a year Labour councillors have caused untold upset to older people with their plans for Sotheby Mews day centre, axing the PlusBus and free transport to lunch clubs and now increasing care charges and means-testing for services. 

Yet the council seems happy enough to spend £3.5million every year on giving a free school meal to every child.  

CLLR RHODRI JAMIESON-BALL 
Lib Dem, Mildmay ward