A letter from our Green Party Cllr Caroline Russell
Cllr Janet Burgess declared in the Gazette in May 2014 that “There are no plans at all to close the Sotheby Mews Day Centre.” Sotheby Mews was apparently safe.
The council decision in February this year, to move services to Highbury Roundhouse’s new building means that service users at Sotheby Mewshave real concerns about losing their dedicated space for older people. People have been going to Sotheby Mews for years and are understandably frightened of losing a popular facility that is protecting older people in Highbury from loneliness and isolation.
This is not just about a secure space for activities such as dancing, singing, hair dressing and a lunch club, it is also about the disbanding of a long-standing, caring community that helps many older people to live independent and fulfilling lives.
The musical demonstration on the town Hall steps shows just how creative, united and determined are the community of Sotheby Mews users. They are bewildered that no one is talking to them and involving them in future plans. When Diarmaid Ward comes to Sotheby Mews I’m sure people will show him just what is being lost. Then perhaps we can start a different conversation that puts the Sotheby Mews service users at the centre of thedecision making process.
Do sign the community petition to Save Sotheby Mews – https://www.change.org/p/islington-council-save-sotheby-mews-day-centre