Garden Centre Contract Update

I phoned Surrey PCT at 14.00 this afternoon for an update on the Old Moat Garden Centre contracts situation and was told someone would phone me back but no one bothered to.

The uncertainty over the future of the garden centre as a workplace , training centre , therapeutic resource and asset to the local community has dragged on for a year now so lets hope we get some clarity from the PCT some time soon.

I'm personally not very confident that the authorities can embrace the flexible varying status and multiple usage model that would be required to offer Surrey & Borders Partnership Trust's service users the greatest choice in training , employment and therapuetic activities here. And yes, its very complex and that's why these decisions should be openly discussed rather than dragged out over a year and decided by a group of ' experts' in a top down secretive way.

This 'Modernisation ' process has not been a local matter, it has been directed by quack academics who are operating at a national level with absolutely no boundaries between them, the DWP and the Government quango NIMHE. This process has also followed a national policy dictated from above that has been signed up to by most MH and LD charities which now have a vested interest as service providers themselves as they are picking up contracts from the state sector rather than keeping a healthy distance to ensure their independence and professional objectivity as registered charities.

In this way, some of the major disability charities are just becoming tools of Government . The Remploy workers had this fact driven home to them today.

If you want to chase up, the Surrey PCT the General Office and Enquiry number is 01372 227300 and the person to speak to is Dianne Woods. Perhaps someone will return your call.