Camden Budget Cuts – Campaign to save West Hampstead's Netherwood Centre

Published: 3rd March, 2011
by TOM FOOT

AN eclectic mix of Camden’s great and good have backed a campaign to save a purpose-built day centre for Alzheimer’s patients.

Violinist Nigel Kennedy, Marxist historian Professor Eric Hobsbawm, author and journalist Tony Parsons, actor Robert Powell and TV presenter Henry Kelly are outraged that Netherwood Centre in West Hampstead could be axed.

More than 1,500 had signed a petition yesterday (Wednesday) calling for council chiefs to reverse a decision to close the “lifeline” centre.

In a message of support to the campaign, Mr Kennedy said: “We need to get attention directed to the appalling consequences every community or ‘small society’ will suffer while our gambling banker friends get away with it.”

Netherwood was built for Alzheimer’s patients 25 years ago, crucially all on the ground floor allowing around 35 people to “roam” in safety.

At a protest in Hampstead High Street on Saturday, Mr Parsons, a one-time punk music journalist and author of best-selling Man and Boy, told the New Journal: “It is such a privilege to live in Hampstead and it is time for the privileged to stand up and do what they can. It is the weakest and most disadvantaged who are under attack from these cuts. I am happy to sign this petition, we need to do what we can.”

In a message on the petition website, Mr Hobsbawn, and his wife Marlene, said: “This is important for everyone. Now, or at sometime. It must be saved.”

The Netherwood campaign group teamed up with a production company staging a play about Alzheimer’s at New End Theatre, Hampstead. Actor Trevor T Smith was sitting in the rain in costume and journalist Jane Clinton, whose father uses Netherwood, helped collect hundreds of signatures for the campaign. 

The centre was due to be shut in July but adult social care chief Councillor Pat Callaghan told the New Journal last week she would “look again” at the decision. At Monday night’s full council meeting it was confirmed that the closure would be “mothballed” until September. 

A petition was delivered by Ms Clinton and three Labour councillors from the Kilburn ward to the Mayor’s Parlour.

• For more information visit www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-netherwood-day-centre.html

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