Save Shaws Wood Petition

Tomorrow night at the Full Council meeting, Strood North ward councillor Stephen Hubbard will hand in a petition, calling for the retention of Shaws Wood as a council Linked Service Centre- residential and day care for older people.
This follows the Tory Cabinet decision to go back on its plans to develop centres of excellence for older people in Medway, and in doing so return the £30 million in PFI credits that had been secured for the scheme to the Government.
The Labour Group had called the item in for further scrutiny, but Tory and Lib Dem members voted it down.
Cllr Hubbard said,
“It has long been an aim of this Tory administration to get rid of Shaws Wood, despite the excellent care people received there.  When staff and service users were chucked out with a few days’ notice just before last Christmas I felt that that was the end of Shaws Wood.”
“Even when the Tories proposed the centres of excellence, the Labour Group feared that they would never come to pass, and that it was simply a ploy to sell the land.  Sadly, this appears to be true.”
Cllr Murray said,
“I was deeply disappointed that members of the scrutiny committee did not vote to retain Shaws Wood.  We’ve lost an excellent service, and at the same turning our back on £30 million pounds’ worth of investment, which demonstrates both the financial incompetence and lack of service planning that is the hallmark of this Tory-run organisation.  This petition marks the last chance for the administration to reconsider their decision, and retain Shaws Wood.”
ENDS

For further comment please contact Cllr Stephen Hubbard on Mobile: 07887 714757, or Cllr Teresa Murray on 01634 409486, or mobile 07855 378043.  Alternatively contact the Group office on 01634 332393.