The fight continues to save Kilburn day centre

Camden Council propose to move facilities to Kentish Town

The battle is back on to save a centre for adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Netherwood Day Centre, in Netherwood Road, Kilburn, was given a reprieve last year when Camden Council withdraw its plans to close the centre.

But the council has now issued new proposals which include unifying a number of day services onto a single site, in Kentish Town. It could mean that Netherwood and three other centres in the borough will close.

Campaigners have vowed to continue the fight and argue there are no other centres like Netherwood close to the boroughs of Brent, Barnet and Westminster.

Jane Clinton’s father John, 67, goes to Netherwood Day Centre and said: “It is hugely disappointing because we worked so hard campaigning to save it. It is a very special place which gives a lot of pleasure to people who attend. You can’t just replicate this place. It is a massive blow that the centre is under threat again.”

Netherwood provides day care facilities for 25 people and runs a carers’ support group. But the council wants to close it and open a ‘Centre for Independent Living’ in Kentish Town.

Councillor Mike Katz (Labour: Kilburn) previously fought to save the centre. He said: “This is the start of a long consultation process, so I’m hopeful that the positive arguments we used to stave the axe from Netherwood earlier in the year will win out in this process.”

A spokeswoman for Camden Council said: “Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the site at Greenwood Place [Kentish Town] has the potential to be the site for Camden’s centre for independent living, and the location for specialist services for people with dementia, learning disabilities and mental health problems.”