Madam,

Ceredigion Social Services’ proposal to close Bodlondeb home in Penparcau, Aberystwyth, is, they tell us, in part motivated by the need to comply with the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (SSWA).

The SSWA seeks to move local authorities away from the provision of care and support, towards preventative work involving providing support and advice to help enable communities meet their own needs.

But how do you define a ‘community’? Is it geographical, or ethnic, or religious or some other factor which closely allies us to some but differentiates us from others? Also, it is a flexible thing in that we can claim membership of more than one ‘community‘ simultaneously.

An important part of ‘community’ seems to be sharing or at least understanding reactions of others to certain actions, events etc. These cues or icons have special meanings to groups of people and help mark out those who have a shared understanding as members of a particular ‘community’. It is for this reason that the county council appears to have tapped into a real sense of community, given the almost unanimous and impassioned rejection of the proposal to close Bodlondeb.

Bodlondeb has been there for the past 50 years, caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. It is reassuring, a symbol of the Welfare State which cares for us, whatever our circumstances from cradle to grave. An embodiment of the ‘Duty of Care’ owed to us by Social Services.

To remove Bodlondeb without first providing a tangible, sustainable and appropriate alternative which is acceptable to the people of Ceredigion is reckless and asking for a leap of faith which the public is just not prepared to place in the leadership of the Social Services department at this time.

New legislation with such far-reaching effects as the SSWA should not have been presented to the public as an excuse for closing Bodlondeb.

I urge the council and Social Services at this time to stop, take stock and start to credit the public with the ability to understand and participate in matters which affect it so directly, and to listen to and heed the public voice when it is unequivocal in its message.

It saddens me when I hear some of our elected representatives say that they are there to make the difficult decisions. It has been my contention from the start of this consultation process that closing Bodlondeb is the easy decision. The difficult one is to keep Bodlondeb open and make it work again.

Yours etc,

George Holloway, Rhoshendre, Waunfawr, Aberystwyth.

Have your say on the local issues affecting you - email [email protected] or join in the conversation on our Facebook page