Hostel closure on hold

Imogene Russell, 14 December 2014 

Councillor Maureen O’Mara has told us that the proposals to close the Ashburnham hostel and other homes and hostels for people with learning disabilities across the borough are now suspended until the summer. 
She said there would be a fresh review of provision, centring on the needs of the residents as well as examining the physical conditions of the buildings. She will be looking into the origins of the present review of premises and into the policy underlying it. A fresh consultation will follow the new review. 
In 2009 Maureen led the successful campaign to prevent the Drapers’ Company evicting the residents of the Queen Elizabeth almshouses in order to sell the properties.