Netherwood Day Centre could be given reprieve twice in a year

Labour councillors in Camden have given the nod to save a Kilburn centre for people with dementia.

Netherwood Day Centre, in Netherwood Road, cares for people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia but Camden Council announced plans to close it along with three other centres last year.

The local authority launched a consultation with plans to unify the centres onto a single site, in Greenwood Place, Kentish Town.

However, campaigners believe Netherwood should stay open because of the specialist care it provides.

Last week a motion was passed by Labour councillors who sit on Camden Council to keep the day centre open.

Cllr Thomas Gardiner, councillor for Kilburn ward, said: “I was really pleased that the majority of the Scrutiny Committee decided to back the motion I put to support a plan to keep Netherwood Day Centre open as a specialist dementia centre.

“Our focus now has to be on making sure that the final plans keep Netherwood open and put it on a secure footing for the future.”

Netherwood has faced closure before.

Earlier last year the council was forced to withdraw its plans to shut the building after thousands of people signed petitions calling for it to be saved.

This time round a host of stars have joined the crusade to save the centre including author Sir Terry Pratchett, theatre director and author Sir Jonathan Miller, writer Alan Bennett, actor Sylvester McCoy and actress Angela Griffin.

Camden Council’s cabinet committee will make its final decision on April 18.