Related Links Unions Reveal Massive Hike In Day Care Charges For Elderly Chiswick Day Centre To Go Before Scrutiny Panel Doubts Cast Over Council Consultation Chiswick Day Care Centre At Risk of Closure Participate Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Comment on this story on the

Hounslow Borough Councillors voted to close Chiswick Day Centre, and other day centre at their budget meeting held on March 1st. The closures will go ahead subject to a consultation ending on the 31st March.

Both the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council said they had had listened to the views of residents before arriving at this and other decisions made. A number of those present challenged this statement.

Speaking on behalf of the Friends of Chiswick Day Centre, Laura Sophie Ware highlighted the value of Centre and the impact any closure would make on users, their families and carers. She presented the Council with a petition containing more than 1,250 signatures against the closure. More than 1,000 signatures were also collected online.

The current charge for attending the Day Care Centre is £3.90 per day. This will rise to between £25 to £51 per day for attending the Heston Day Centre, the only Council run alternative should the Chiswick Day Centre close. "All the charges, old and new, are means tested and not everyone has to pay however, these charges will make it impossible for some people to attend day services", said a Council spokeswoman.

The closure will now go before Hounslow Council's Health & Adult Care Scrutiny Panel after a number of formal complaints. Chair of the Panel, Cllr Rajawat, requested a special meeting and an invitation has been sent to all members of the Panel, made up of both Labour and Conservative Councillors, to attend.

Members of the community along with key stakeholders such as Carers UK and Age Concern are also being invited to attend although a date and time has yet to be announced.

March 2, 2011