Proposal to close adult day centre put on hold

Plans to close an adult day centre in North Yorkshire have been paused following concerns from users and their families.

Cauwood Day Service in Malton supports adults with complex needs, including autism and learning disabilities.

North Yorkshire Council officers previously recommended shutting the site, with its services offered elsewhere in Ryedale, to develop an extra care scheme.

However, members of the executive committee voted on Tuesday to instead hold a consultation with the centre's users, rather than approve the closure.

The meeting at Ripon Town Hall heard from campaigners such as Caroline Garrod, whose 24-year-old daughter Natasha uses the service.

"She has autism, PDA and severe learning difficulties," Garrod explained.

"She has very limited speech and although she is 24, basically she's a child, she's five, but she walks in there now like she owns the place, she's so happy."

Stuart Moss, another parent, from Pickering, said he wanted the centre to remain open so his son, Matty, and others could continue to use it.

"It's now our chance to prepare to fight for my son's future and the other service users' future," he told the meeting.

"It gives us time now to gather our thoughts, because we haven't slept really since we were first told 12 days ago about this potential closure."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the meeting also heard from a group of cross-party councillors opposing the closure, including Conservative Keane Duncan and Liberal Democrat Steve Mason.

Conservative councillor Michael Harrison, executive member for health and adult services, admitted the proposed closure had caused a great deal of concern for users and their families.

He told the meeting: "The overriding priority for the council has always been to ensure that people who have complex care and support needs and their families receive that care and support - and that priority remains.

"There have been a number of queries raised around the report, specifically relating to the day centre, and the loudest concern has been around a lack of consultation.

"Any proposal to close a service is never taken lightly, and I have reflected on the submissions put forward by the families of those attending Cauwood on behalf of those they care for and others.

"Having listened to those concerns, I do not wish to proceed with this report as set out today."

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