MORE than 70 emails have been received by the Save Woolston Neighbourhood Hub group from local residents suffering from mental and physical health problems as a direct result of the controversial closure.
While Warrington Borough Council members have been made aware of the health concerns, again raised at Monday night’s meeting by a local doctor, “the silence has been deafening,” says Judy Brown, Co-Chair of the Save Woolston Hub campaign group.
Protesters supporting the campaign to re-open Woolston Neighbourhood Hub once again gathered outside Warrington Town Hall on Monday ahead of the Cabinet meeting, which did not include a vote on the Hub’s future, as the results of the Consultation have not yet been released. It was initially stated by the Council that they would be available in “early spring”.
The Save Woolston Neighbourhood Hub group has recently received over 70 emails, stressing the mental and physical health problems experienced by residents as a direct result of closing the Hub.
Dr Indu Raju, working as a local GP, has gained an insight into many more people affected by the closure, who visit her regularly.
Dr Raju stated that she’d seen first hand, both professionally and personally, the impact that the closure has had on the community, stating that there’d been a marked deterioration in the health of so many of it’s regular uses, who now require additional medication as they’re now not able to self-manage, and how this highlights the crucial role that the Hub has in the management and prevention of so many chronic diseases.
Dr Raju also pointed to the testimonies submitted and how recovery from surgery has been impacted by not having access to local swimming facilities. For these people, the Hub’s Swimming pool was the only realistic option – close enough, affordable enough and adapted enough for them to maintain mobility and prevent complications.
Dr Raju subsequently described how profound the mental health consequences of older adults, young parents, and people living alone have been impacted. Since the closure, loneliness, anxiety, and low mood have all noticeably increased, and the effects of this are being felt in primary care, which in time will also impact secondary care.
Her question was then asked as follows :- “Given the clear and measurable negative impact on physical and mental health since the Hub’s closure—and the resulting increase in demand on already overstretched NHS services—what specific actions and timelines will the Council commit to in order to restore accessible local facilities for exercise, rehabilitation, and social connection to some of the most vulnerable members of our community?”
The response from Councillor Jean Flaherty, the Councillor for Leisure Services, was as follows: “The Council is currently taking external advice regarding the Consultation on the future of the Hub and we will share more information about it once that advice has been received. However, I do want to assure you that as a Council we remain committed to meaningful engagement about the future of the facility, as reflected in meetings I have recently attended with members of the Woolston Hub campaign group. We are continuing to explore all options available in relation to the Hub”
Dr Raju then asked a follow-up question, “You mentioned about funding options that have been explored so far. Could you be specific as to what those funding options are and when will they be let known to the public.”
This question was answered by the Council Leader, Councillor Hans Mundry. He referenced potential unnamed external partners but he did not outline what internal funding options or other public funding streams had already been pursued and exhausted. He also stated that there is concern that the external funding must cover any annual losses as well as the repair costs.
Co-chair of the Save Woolston Neighbourhood Hub group, Judy Brown, commented, “The testimonies of Hub users were emailed to Cabinet members over three weeks ago. So far, we’ve had no replies – the silence has been deafening.
“All these problems, so eloquently raised by Dr Raju, will not only continue but escalate for as long as this situation remains.
“In addition, it’s now apparent that the whole of Warrington will undoubtedly be affected when both the beds in Warrington Hospital and the appointments at local doctors’ surgeries start filling up with significant numbers of people who were once keen to spend their precious time and precious money improving their Health and Fitness, but had that opportunity taken away from them.
“The town is punishing the people who, at considerable cost (both financially and time-wise) to themselves, have been saving the public purse vast sums of money.
“Sadly, the testimonies are just the tip of the iceberg, but the 72 sent, in addition to all the people that Dr Raju referred to in her statement, bear witness to the appalling and unnecessary human cost of closing Woolston Neighbourhood Hub.
“At the moment, we are searching for solutions, and whilst a Community Asset Transfer is a possibility if no one else will try and save the Hub, we are currently looking at several models to try to ensure that the Hub survives.”
