Mr Bone

- Hansard -

I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to present another petition. I am afraid that this petition is so heavy that I am unable physically to present it myself. It has been signed by 10,119 petitioners and represents a very controversial matter in my constituency. I am very pleased to say that both parties on the borough council of Wellingborough have decided to re-engage with the issue and look at it again.

The petition states:

The Humble Petition of the residents of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas,

Sheweth,

That the Petitioners believe that the proposed closure of Glamis Hall in Wellingborough is unacceptable because there are no other day care facilities for the elderly in Wellingborough; further that the Petitioners believe that for many of the 180 elderly people who attend the day centre it is their only opportunity to socialise, and provides an excellent service, including transport to/from the centre, bathing, podiatry and hair dressing services; and further that the Petitioners believe that it provides a social atmosphere for some of our most vulnerable people, as well as providing recreation bookings and sports changing rooms in the evenings and weekends.

Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House urges the Department for Communities and Local Government to encourage Northamptonshire County Council and the Borough Council of Wellingborough to work together to ensure Glamis Hall is kept open until the end of November 2015, while working with the community in the interim period to find a permanent solution which is satisfactory to all.

And your Petitioners, as duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

[P001385]