Exeter respite centre to remain closed
An Exeter respite centre is to remain closed because Devon County Council cannot afford the refurbishments it needs.
Haldon View Respite Centre, which is one of two County Council-run respite centres in Exeter for people with learning disabilities, is a large period building, that needs among its extensive repairs a complete heating system overhaul including asbestos removal.
However, Pine Park Respite Centre in Honiton will reopen this September after serious flooding last December left the building totally unusable, Devon County Council has confirmed.
With the cost of repairs at Pine Park estimated to reach £130,000 this year, at a time when the Council has to save £110 million by 2017 due to Government funding cuts, the Council can not afford a larger bill of £311,000 to make equally necessary repairs to Haldon View and so managers have decided not to reopen the Exeter centre.
It means that people who had been using Pine Park respite centre before the flooding, and who have since been using other Council or private respite services, or waiting for the centre to re-open, can return to use Pine Park.
People currently using Haldon View for respite will be able to use the Council’s other respite centre in Exeter, Treetops, or Pine Park if they choose to, or private sector respite provision.
The Haldon service will be suspended once alternative arrangements are in place for its users, and Pine Park has reopened, by September.
The hygiene and clean up work at Pine Park is almost complete, but the Council’s plans include new floor coverings, replacement kitchen and bathroom units, and the reconstruction of damaged walls. Other maintenance to the building is also required before it will reopen.
Councillor Stuart Barker, the Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for the service said:
“We have looked at the number of people and families currently using respite and the frequency of their visits, and the fact that all four of our respite centres have ongoing spare capacity. But given the estimated cost to carry out necessary work at Haldon View, and because we have two respite centres in Exeter, we will reopen Pine Park respite centre in Honiton and temporarily suspend the service from Haldon View.”
The Council will be working closely with users of the Haldon View service to make alternative arrangements with them.
“We will do everything we can to help people make the change with as little disruption as possible,” said Cllr Barker.
