Council Snubs Lib Dem Leader's Visit To Pershore Care Centre

12.18.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Jul 2008

Parents and carers have reacted angrily to a County Council refusal to allow Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg to visit their sons at Pershore Care Centre this Thursday, calling the decision "extremely petty" and "childish".

Mr Clegg was due to visit the town and speak to parents and carers at the closure threatened day centre, but a request to the county council was turned down by Tory bosses, who claimed it was "not in the public or Council's interest to allow such a meeting on the Council's premises."

Mr Clegg will now meet the carers and parents with their sons, all with profound multiple learning difficulties, at the home of Tony and Judy Hall in Birlingham once they have left the Centre for the day.

Judy Hall, who has spearheaded the campaign to save the Centre, said: "This decision to deny Mr Clegg access to our sons when they are together at Pershore Care Centre is extremely petty. It is very difficult to move our young men around, particularly with the inclement weather, but we are all determined that we will meet Mr Clegg and explain our fears about the closure."

"The Council has taken a childish attitude", added Tony Hall.

Pershore's Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt, who backed the parents campaign and arranged the visit added:

"The county council may have decided to close Pershore Care Centre, but parents are determined to fight this decision all the way because they are not convinced that their sons will receive the same quality of care elsewhere.

"Nick Clegg has made his own personal commitment to special needs and mental health provision abundantly clear. I think it is disgraceful that Council bosses should deny him access in this way."