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Protestors lose fight to keep open centre for the disabled
ANGRY protestors have lost their fight to keep open an activity centre for the disabled in north Kent.
The Queen Elizabeth Foundation Resource Centre, Brent Way, Dartford will close on Friday. (OCTOBER 17).
Kent County Council (KCC) funded the centre which catered for 180 people with physical disabilities.
The council is now selling the building which it owned and replacing it with alternative services in Gravesend, Dartford and Swanley.
These include the Riverside Centre, Dickens Road, Gravesend, the Discovery Centre at Swan Valley Community School, Swanscombe and Swanley Youth and Community Centre in St Mary's Road.
Members of the centre have been campaigning against its closure since August 2007.
One member is 42-year-old Sonia Mallion of Oliver Road, Swanley.
She said: "We initially started campaigning because we believed that the council had not got proper provision of service in place before the closure of the centre.
"For a long time it wasn't clear what services the council would be replacing the centre with."
Members have previously protested against the closure by presenting a signed petition to KCC chairman Leyland Ridings.
They have also held two protests outside KCC County Hall in Maidstone, and a 48-hour protest outside the centre in September.
The group are now disbanding and Miss Mallion says there is nothing more they can do, except keep optimistic about the new services on offer.
Maureen Wenbarn of Kings Drive, Gravesend has been using the centre for seven years.
The 59-year-old said: "I think it's disgusting.
"The activities at the centre were great and the staff were very helpful.
"It was so handy having everything under one roof and the centre was accessible to everyone living in the surrounding area.
"Now we have to commute to different place to access different facilities, which is difficult when your in a wheel chair and public transport can be expensive."
The closure is part of a planned restructuring of service provision for disabled people by Kent Adult Services.
News Shopper is awaiting a response from KCC.
3:15pm Friday 10th October 2008
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