Pensioners demonstrate outside Camden Council against cuts to ‘lifeline’ services

Published: 20th January, 2011
by JOSIE HINTON

PENSIONERS, including one aged 99 and some in wheelchairs, surrounded the Town Hall in protest at the “decimation” of day centres and luncheon clubs for the elderly.

Despite their frailty, the protesters joined a demonstration in Judd Street on Tuesday waving placards that made their anger clear at cuts.

Some wore bullseyes on their chests and suggested they are “easy targets” as public spending is slashed.

In the most powerful message to Labour councillors mulling over their budget plans that will be finalised over the next three months, the threatened day centres for pensioners were described as “lifelines”.

Proposals include withdrawing funding for advice services, axing four day centres, five luncheon clubs and cutting back eight “good neighbour” schemes – a trusted project through which volunteers visit the elderly and infirm in their homes.

So far, Labour councillors have insisted they have no choice but to wield the axe because of government funding cuts.

But this failed to satisfy the demonstrators who have accused the council of doing the government’s work and targeting those they believe are less likely to speak out.

Lily Chatty, 99, said: “Once staff take me home in the afternoon I don’t see anybody until they pick me up again the next morning. I just sit and stare at four walls – now that’s what they want me to do for the rest of my life.”

Staff and supporters of the four day centres under threat – Millman Street, Hillwood, Great Croft and Henderson Court – have also rejected the “no choice” defence.

Phoebe Watkins, a trustee of the Holborn Community Association which runs Millman Street resource centre, said: “Labour councillors should be leading the march down to central government and shouting that these are the people that are suffering. 

“There are no savings in this. 

“All shutting down these services does is save up costs for the future.”

Gary Jones, chief executive of Age Concern Camden – which is set to lose all of its three centres – said the Town Hall was destroying a proud record of good services built up over decades.

He added: “Camden does face difficult decisions but they are not doing enough to protect frontline services.”

Long-serving Labour councillor Pat Callaghan, the head of the social services department, addressed the crowd through a megaphone but insisted she could not pledge to save the services.

“There’s not a word that anybody has said that we disagree with,” she said. 

“These cuts are being imposed on us by central government. My budget has been cut by £16million and if we didn’t set a budget our officers would do it for us.”  

Labour leader Councillor Nash Ali said he was “brought to tears” by the actions he was forced to take. 

“Most of the people here I’ve worked with, these are my friends and family. It brings me to tears to stand here with these cuts you are facing,” he said. 

“But we have no choice. We want to protect frontline services but we can’t do it from back office savings alone. 

“We are willing to lead any demonstrations to Parliament.”