Pensioners left isolated after senior citizens club shuts

6:30pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in Local News By Carri-Ann Taylor, Reporter

Pensioners left isolated after senior citizens club shuts Pensioners left isolated after senior citizens club shuts

A 90-YEAR-old man claims pensioners have been left lonely and isolated after their social club was forced to shut because of spiraling costs.

The No 1 Senior Citizens Club in Billericay, was forced to close last month after 65-years because Basildon Council more than tripled the cost of hiring the Day Centre in Chantry Way.

Former chairman, Robert Nutall, 90, is disappointed the council did not do more to help them stay open and fears the closure has left many pensioners stuck at home feeling isolated.

He is appealing for a sponsor to come forward to help the club start up again.

Comments (15)

6:35pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Carnabackable says...

Disgusting, Basildon council spend thousands on other worthless projects, yet leave out seniors, out in the cold.
Disgusting, Basildon council spend thousands on other worthless projects, yet leave out seniors, out in the cold. Carnabackable

6:49pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Howard Chase says...

what has Blakey got to say about this?
what has Blakey got to say about this? Howard Chase

8:27pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Basildon Council Communications says...

This is unfortunate, but we told the club and others that use this facility two years ago that the council would be charging hire fees from April 2013. Until April 2011 we were hiring this out free of charge which was not in line with the rest of our facilities which are generally around £18 an hour.

So instead of just charging full rate from april 2011 we gave all the clubs two years to prepare, by bringing in the increase incrementally, ie £6 an hour from April 2011, £12 an hour from 2012 and £18 from 2013.

Unfortunately we cannot justify charging all other clubs and societies across the borough but not this one.

People will obviously criticise but there are not many councils left that even run day centres.
This is unfortunate, but we told the club and others that use this facility two years ago that the council would be charging hire fees from April 2013. Until April 2011 we were hiring this out free of charge which was not in line with the rest of our facilities which are generally around £18 an hour. So instead of just charging full rate from april 2011 we gave all the clubs two years to prepare, by bringing in the increase incrementally, ie £6 an hour from April 2011, £12 an hour from 2012 and £18 from 2013. Unfortunately we cannot justify charging all other clubs and societies across the borough but not this one. People will obviously criticise but there are not many councils left that even run day centres. Basildon Council Communications

8:30pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Basildon Council Communications says...

Should add that we hope the club gets a sponsor and can continue to run, and also add that the council has given this club hundreds of pounds in community grants in the past, and should they continue they would b e able to apply for that again.
Should add that we hope the club gets a sponsor and can continue to run, and also add that the council has given this club hundreds of pounds in community grants in the past, and should they continue they would b e able to apply for that again. Basildon Council Communications

11:35pm Wed 20 Mar 13

emcee says...

The Echo is quite happy to publish the concerns of the aggrieved but fails to ask, and publish, the views of Basildon Council, forcing the council to respond via the comments section.
Lazy journalism, AGAIN.
The Echo is quite happy to publish the concerns of the aggrieved but fails to ask, and publish, the views of Basildon Council, forcing the council to respond via the comments section. Lazy journalism, AGAIN. emcee

6:55am Thu 21 Mar 13

Basildon Council Communications says...

emcee wrote:
The Echo is quite happy to publish the concerns of the aggrieved but fails to ask, and publish, the views of Basildon Council, forcing the council to respond via the comments section.
Lazy journalism, AGAIN.
Thanks for the comment.

In defence of the echo they have asked us for a comment that I would hope to see in the print edition, although it should be online too really as not all will see online.
[quote][p][bold]emcee[/bold] wrote: The Echo is quite happy to publish the concerns of the aggrieved but fails to ask, and publish, the views of Basildon Council, forcing the council to respond via the comments section. Lazy journalism, AGAIN.[/p][/quote]Thanks for the comment. In defence of the echo they have asked us for a comment that I would hope to see in the print edition, although it should be online too really as not all will see online. Basildon Council Communications

6:56am Thu 21 Mar 13

Basildon Council Communications says...

Basildon Council Communications wrote:
emcee wrote:
The Echo is quite happy to publish the concerns of the aggrieved but fails to ask, and publish, the views of Basildon Council, forcing the council to respond via the comments section.
Lazy journalism, AGAIN.
Thanks for the comment.

In defence of the echo they have asked us for a comment that I would hope to see in the print edition, although it should be online too really as not all will see online.
Sorry not all will see the print edition.
[quote][p][bold]Basildon Council Communications[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]emcee[/bold] wrote: The Echo is quite happy to publish the concerns of the aggrieved but fails to ask, and publish, the views of Basildon Council, forcing the council to respond via the comments section. Lazy journalism, AGAIN.[/p][/quote]Thanks for the comment. In defence of the echo they have asked us for a comment that I would hope to see in the print edition, although it should be online too really as not all will see online.[/p][/quote]Sorry not all will see the print edition. Basildon Council Communications

8:11am Thu 21 Mar 13

Nebs says...

Basildon Council Communications wrote:
Should add that we hope the club gets a sponsor and can continue to run, and also add that the council has given this club hundreds of pounds in community grants in the past, and should they continue they would b e able to apply for that again.
So you are going to charge them a fee, fair enough, and someone at the council will be paid to collect and process the fees. But the pensioners group can apply to the council for a grant to put towards these fees, which someone at the council will be paid to scrutinise and authorise.
Can you think of a way for the pensioners to end up in the same position, but for the council to save some money on the council wages bill.
[quote][p][bold]Basildon Council Communications[/bold] wrote: Should add that we hope the club gets a sponsor and can continue to run, and also add that the council has given this club hundreds of pounds in community grants in the past, and should they continue they would b e able to apply for that again.[/p][/quote]So you are going to charge them a fee, fair enough, and someone at the council will be paid to collect and process the fees. But the pensioners group can apply to the council for a grant to put towards these fees, which someone at the council will be paid to scrutinise and authorise. Can you think of a way for the pensioners to end up in the same position, but for the council to save some money on the council wages bill. Nebs

11:42am Thu 21 Mar 13

Howard Chase says...

Basildon Council Communications wrote:
This is unfortunate, but we told the club and others that use this facility two years ago that the council would be charging hire fees from April 2013. Until April 2011 we were hiring this out free of charge which was not in line with the rest of our facilities which are generally around £18 an hour.

So instead of just charging full rate from april 2011 we gave all the clubs two years to prepare, by bringing in the increase incrementally, ie £6 an hour from April 2011, £12 an hour from 2012 and £18 from 2013.

Unfortunately we cannot justify charging all other clubs and societies across the borough but not this one.

People will obviously criticise but there are not many councils left that even run day centres.
how many houses will be built on the site of the club?
[quote][p][bold]Basildon Council Communications[/bold] wrote: This is unfortunate, but we told the club and others that use this facility two years ago that the council would be charging hire fees from April 2013. Until April 2011 we were hiring this out free of charge which was not in line with the rest of our facilities which are generally around £18 an hour. So instead of just charging full rate from april 2011 we gave all the clubs two years to prepare, by bringing in the increase incrementally, ie £6 an hour from April 2011, £12 an hour from 2012 and £18 from 2013. Unfortunately we cannot justify charging all other clubs and societies across the borough but not this one. People will obviously criticise but there are not many councils left that even run day centres.[/p][/quote]how many houses will be built on the site of the club? Howard Chase

2:45pm Thu 21 Mar 13

whataday says...

Why should pensioners have somewhere to go and socialise. After all they have only paid into the tax and national insurance systems all their lives unlike others I could mention but if I did the happy clappy politically correct brigade would start up
Why should pensioners have somewhere to go and socialise. After all they have only paid into the tax and national insurance systems all their lives unlike others I could mention but if I did the happy clappy politically correct brigade would start up whataday

2:57pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Basildon_Boy says...

They always got the pub in their final few stages on earth!
They always got the pub in their final few stages on earth! Basildon_Boy

3:13pm Thu 21 Mar 13

sosad 1 says...

Basildon_Boy wrote:
They always got the pub in their final few stages on earth!
you getting the beers in!
[quote][p][bold]Basildon_Boy[/bold] wrote: They always got the pub in their final few stages on earth![/p][/quote]you getting the beers in! sosad 1

6:54pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Basildon Council Communications says...

Howard Chase wrote:
Basildon Council Communications wrote: This is unfortunate, but we told the club and others that use this facility two years ago that the council would be charging hire fees from April 2013. Until April 2011 we were hiring this out free of charge which was not in line with the rest of our facilities which are generally around £18 an hour. So instead of just charging full rate from april 2011 we gave all the clubs two years to prepare, by bringing in the increase incrementally, ie £6 an hour from April 2011, £12 an hour from 2012 and £18 from 2013. Unfortunately we cannot justify charging all other clubs and societies across the borough but not this one. People will obviously criticise but there are not many councils left that even run day centres.
how many houses will be built on the site of the club?
The social club is stopping, not the whole day centre.
[quote][p][bold]Howard Chase[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Basildon Council Communications[/bold] wrote: This is unfortunate, but we told the club and others that use this facility two years ago that the council would be charging hire fees from April 2013. Until April 2011 we were hiring this out free of charge which was not in line with the rest of our facilities which are generally around £18 an hour. So instead of just charging full rate from april 2011 we gave all the clubs two years to prepare, by bringing in the increase incrementally, ie £6 an hour from April 2011, £12 an hour from 2012 and £18 from 2013. Unfortunately we cannot justify charging all other clubs and societies across the borough but not this one. People will obviously criticise but there are not many councils left that even run day centres.[/p][/quote]how many houses will be built on the site of the club?[/p][/quote]The social club is stopping, not the whole day centre. Basildon Council Communications

6:57pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Basildon Council Communications says...

Nebs wrote:
Basildon Council Communications wrote: Should add that we hope the club gets a sponsor and can continue to run, and also add that the council has given this club hundreds of pounds in community grants in the past, and should they continue they would b e able to apply for that again.
So you are going to charge them a fee, fair enough, and someone at the council will be paid to collect and process the fees. But the pensioners group can apply to the council for a grant to put towards these fees, which someone at the council will be paid to scrutinise and authorise. Can you think of a way for the pensioners to end up in the same position, but for the council to save some money on the council wages bill.
Can see what you are saying, but no-one is specifically employed just to collect fees from this day centre and the funding officer deals with hundreds of clubs and societies and lots of grants and community funding etc.
[quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Basildon Council Communications[/bold] wrote: Should add that we hope the club gets a sponsor and can continue to run, and also add that the council has given this club hundreds of pounds in community grants in the past, and should they continue they would b e able to apply for that again.[/p][/quote]So you are going to charge them a fee, fair enough, and someone at the council will be paid to collect and process the fees. But the pensioners group can apply to the council for a grant to put towards these fees, which someone at the council will be paid to scrutinise and authorise. Can you think of a way for the pensioners to end up in the same position, but for the council to save some money on the council wages bill.[/p][/quote]Can see what you are saying, but no-one is specifically employed just to collect fees from this day centre and the funding officer deals with hundreds of clubs and societies and lots of grants and community funding etc. Basildon Council Communications

10:32am Fri 22 Mar 13

Howard Chase says...

Basildon Council Communications wrote:
Howard Chase wrote:
Basildon Council Communications wrote: This is unfortunate, but we told the club and others that use this facility two years ago that the council would be charging hire fees from April 2013. Until April 2011 we were hiring this out free of charge which was not in line with the rest of our facilities which are generally around £18 an hour. So instead of just charging full rate from april 2011 we gave all the clubs two years to prepare, by bringing in the increase incrementally, ie £6 an hour from April 2011, £12 an hour from 2012 and £18 from 2013. Unfortunately we cannot justify charging all other clubs and societies across the borough but not this one. People will obviously criticise but there are not many councils left that even run day centres.
how many houses will be built on the site of the club?
The social club is stopping, not the whole day centre.
So have we got the guarantee of the Council that this facility will NOT be redevolped?

Although as it is north of the A127 in untouchable Billericay that's probably a rhetorical question
[quote][p][bold]Basildon Council Communications[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Howard Chase[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Basildon Council Communications[/bold] wrote: This is unfortunate, but we told the club and others that use this facility two years ago that the council would be charging hire fees from April 2013. Until April 2011 we were hiring this out free of charge which was not in line with the rest of our facilities which are generally around £18 an hour. So instead of just charging full rate from april 2011 we gave all the clubs two years to prepare, by bringing in the increase incrementally, ie £6 an hour from April 2011, £12 an hour from 2012 and £18 from 2013. Unfortunately we cannot justify charging all other clubs and societies across the borough but not this one. People will obviously criticise but there are not many councils left that even run day centres.[/p][/quote]how many houses will be built on the site of the club?[/p][/quote]The social club is stopping, not the whole day centre.[/p][/quote]So have we got the guarantee of the Council that this facility will NOT be redevolped? Although as it is north of the A127 in untouchable Billericay that's probably a rhetorical question Howard Chase

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