Madam,

By the time this week’s Cambrian News is published, Ceredigion Council’s Cabinet will have made its decision on the future of Bodlondeb.

Will the Cabinet have ignored those thousands that have responded to the campaign and its own consultation? Will they have chosen to ignore the cross-party campaign, encompassing unions, Ceredigion Liberal Democrats, Ceredigion Labour Party, members of Plaid Cymru, the Conservative Party, elected representatives past and present? At the time of writing it is unclear. I hope my hunch is proved wrong and the Cabinet will surprise us all and provide a future for Bodlondeb. I hope that our council leaders have listened to the will of the people. I do not recall any of them being elected on a mandate for closure.

It has been my privilege to Chair the Save Bodlondeb Campaign. It has been a community effort in the very best traditions of a community that cares. I want to thank everyone who has helped in whatever way. Our thanks too to the Ceredigion People’s Assembly for their active support and those who have attended our marches, meetings and vigils. But I also want to make it clear to the council that the issue of adult social care is one that many of us will continue to campaign for vigorously. We have described the closure of Bodlondeb as the thin end of the wedge. There remain unanswered questions, quite literally many of them, particularly over the council’s consultation.

Above all else, we remain concerned that the council has simply failed to recognise the need for a vision of adult social care provision across Ceredigion; is retreating in its role as a public sector provider; and is mistaken in its view that as the number of elderly grow then its residential care provision should be reduced. We have never questioned the delivery of care in one’s own home for some, but have asserted that adequate residential care is essential too for the many that require it, a trend that looks set to grow.

Our work will go on.

Yours etc,

Mark Williams, Chair, Save Bodlondeb Campaign.

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