Adults with learning disabilities who use day services at Highbridge’s Pepperall Resource Centre may have to travel to Bridgwater when a number of changes are introduced during the next 18 months.
Somerset County Council announced on Thursday (June 1st) that as part of the regeneration of Bridgwater town centre, a new building is to be built which it says “will meet the needs of people with learning disabilities in Bridgwater, Burnham and Highbridge.”
It claims that over the last ten years the number of adults with learning disabilities using the Pepperall Resource Centre and the Enterprise Resource Centre in Bridgwater has decreased.
A spokesman said: “This is partly due to an increasing number of adults with learning disabilities attending the ‘Work Preparation Service’ at West Huntspill where people are trained with necessary skills to enter employment. Also, a further group of people are now receiving individual day services organised from home.”
Justin Robinson, Somerset County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult and Community Services, added: “The Government increasingly expects us to provide less through day centres and more through individually packaged planned packages of care and support.”
“However, some level of day centre provision is always likely to be necessary given the very special needs of some people. The current Enterprise Resource Centre’s lifespan is limited and the new service planned will be a vast improvement for adults with learning disabilities that continue to require a day service.”
There is a current lack of suitable accommodation for older people with learning disabilities and for people who have a physical and learning disability who need specially adapted accommodation.
Pepperall Resource Centre in Highbridge is therefore be turned into accommodation for 12 to 15 adults with learning disabilities. This new accommodation is expected to be ready by 2008.
Highbridge County Councillor Rosemarie Parsons (pictured), who is a member of the project group, said: “Parents or carers of those affected have been sent a letter explaining the proposed changes and they have been offered individual meetings to discuss these implications.”
“We do need supported living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities in this area and I support this project fully.”
Somerset County Council is in the process of setting up a project management group to implement the changes which will include representatives from staff at the Pepperall Resource Centre, service users, parents/carers, care managers, Somerset Advocacy and County Councillors.
