Editor

Well there’s at least a measure of consistency in never failing to disappoint, in that now Ceredigion County Council is no longer pursuing EMI nursing care as an option for the sale of Bodlondeb.

Leader of the council Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn stated that there was no call for the service in Ceredigion, whilst corporate director Sue Darnbrook directly contradicted her at Scrutiny on the 16 March. Don’t these people ever talk to one another?

It is at this point I would encourage families who have experienced or are experiencing the heartache of a loved one having to move out of the county to receive care, to contact Cllr ap Gwynn and advise her of the situation in the real world.

On Tuesday, 17 March, the Cabinet, after having its decision challenged by unhappy councillors, started a meeting at 10am, progressed through five items of business and were still apparently able to confirm that their initial decision will stand by 10.28am. Fast work.

But not as fast as they will have to work to meet the timescale they have set themselves; to now sell Bodlondeb to a registered social landlord within three months!

Do not fear, however, because if what one county councillor revealed yesterday is true, they already have an interested party, a housing association and have allegedly have also set a selling price for the site... £1.

That the Cabinet were patently unprepared to make the decision was made clear when Cllr ap Gwynn stated that none of the Cabinet had seen the plans.

Indeed the only reason the great majority of councillors were even aware that there was a bid on the table was due to an email sent to each councillor on New Year’s Day by the North Ceredigion Forum For Elderly Care.

Again showing a colossal lack of tact and respect to people in need of EMI nursing care who have paid into the system all their adult lives, Cllr ap Gwynn summed it up by saying “my first duty is to the taxpayer”.

George Holloway on behalf of the North Ceredigion Forum

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