An urgent open public meeting has been called for, so that town and community councils in the area can act against the threatened closure of Tenby’s Avenue Centre.

Members of Tenby Town Council discussed the matter at their meeting on Tuesday night, and also met with Kate Schofield, whose twin sister Maggie, who has Down’s Syndrome, has been attending the Avenue Centre since she was 16.

Mrs. Schofield told councillors that she was leading a campaign group against the potential closure of the facility, but needed more support.

“There is only five of us, and we can’t do it on our own,” she stressed.

“We have had lots of support and media interest, including coverage by the BBC, but as Tenby Town Council has expressed serious concerns over Pembrokeshire County Council’s consultation process, we were hoping that councillors could help harness the huge support out there that has been shown to our campaign,” added Mrs. Schofield.

She also told members that she was alarmed at many points that PCC’s director of social services and leisure, Pam Marsden, had made in a report that she read from a recent meeting on the Avenue Centre that had been held with members of the town council.

Mrs. Schofield explained that a report presented to the county council’s cabinet had been “shockingly basic” and “factually incorrect” with regards to a Matrix assessment review of the needs of adult clients and carers at the centre.

“Comments Mrs. Marsden made at her meeting with you contradict what she’s told us,” she said.

“To say that there is no independence there for the clients that use the centre is complete nonsense,” stated Mrs. Schofield

Members of PCC’s ‘older persons, health and well-being overview and scrutiny committee’ were briefed on the ongoing consultation into the future of the facility last week, with head of adult care, Jonathan Griffiths, telling the meeting that more work needed doing regarding the individual needs of adults using the centre.

“It is clear that the summary of needs in the cabinet report was not a true reflection of people’s needs. No decision will be made without full assessments. There is a need for comprehensive assessment of people who use the centre and the needs of their carers,” he commented.

The 12-week consultation period was also due to be extended, the committee was informed.

Mrs. Schofield told councillors that she would welcome the town council facilitating a public meeting to see what further support was out there for the campaign group and hoped that it would tap into more knowledge in the community to help the action group’s campaign.

Clr. Mike Evans said that he had warned from day one that this would be a fight for the Avenue Centre.

“PCC need to save some £15m, but this is a cut that is yet to be justified and the implications yet to be thought through,” he remarked, before recommending that an individual audit be conducted for each service user of the centre and carers too.

He wanted PCC to provide a definite timescale of the consultation period, and also asked the town council to write to local MPs and every AM and regional AM to ask for direct help, as well as inviting the chairs of each surrounding town or community council, to any public meeting that is arranged.

“This is not just a concern for Tenby, but a wider issue too,” he added.

Councillors agreed to meet with Mrs. Schofield again and her action group before any open public meeting takes place.- - - - - - - - Needs of vulnerable people should not be swept under the carpetSir,Regarding the uncertainty over the future of the Greenhill Avenue Centre for Adults with Learning Disabilities, I would like to thank all the businesses who have kindly agreed to take sheets of my paper petition for people to sign. If anyone would like to sign this petition, it can still be found at the Post Offices in Tenby, Saundersfoot, New Hedges, Manorbier and Kilgetty; the garages at Kiln Park, The Green, Tenby and The Crossroads, Begelly; Carlton Cards, Jamie’s Salon, Jazz Radio, the Five Arches Newsagent and Tenby Museum.Over 1,200 people have already kindly signed this paper petition, not counting all the sheets still to be collected in or over 1,100 signatures so far on an on-line petition which can be found on www.change.org. We are hoping to present the petition on behalf of the Avenue Centre at the end of next week.Many thanks for all the much-needed support, as the needs of vulnerable people and their families should not be just swept under the carpet.Mo Crockford, Tenby