Vince Cable

The row over the future of the Avenue Centre on the Normansfield site in Hampton Wick reaches a new stage on Tuesday when the council has agreed to meet its critics amongst carers of young people with learning difficulties.

They fear that if the site is redeveloped as a GP surgery and for housing, with a reduced facility for clients of the Avenue Centre, there will be a decline in the opportunities for this vulnerable group to socialise and develop skills.

Vincent Cable, who has taken up the issue on behalf of some of the dissatisfied carers said: "the council has done quite a lot of consultation but quite a few carers were missed out for reasons which are not at all clear. The council acknowledges that there are divided views on the value of day centres; but it is undoubtedly the case that, for some, it is a lifeline.

The redevelopment of the site has become a divisive issue and it is important that the council takes full account of the concerns of those cares who feel that people with learning difficulties who greatly value the centre would become socially isolated if they lose it".