Lunch Threat to Elderly Residents (Mole Valley Liberal Democrats)

Mole Valley Liberal Democrats <info@molevalleylibdems.org.uk>

Lunch Threat to Elderly Residents

November 13, 2009 11:09 AM

Local Liberal Democrats support residents of Silver Court in their campaign to save hot lunches

At a meeting in August, residents of Silver Court in Leatherhead were told that Mole Valley Housing Association (MVHA) wanted to scrap their hot lunches in the communal area from 2010 - to save money. Liberal Democrat councillor Bridget Lewis-Carr, Parliamentary Candidate Alice Humphreys and residents' relatives Ray Houlgate and Peter Humphreys mounted a campaign to get the decision reversed.

Silver Court is in the north of Leatherhead and contains 22 studio flats. It is the home of elderly residents, many of whom have poor mobility and poor eyesight, and is run by MVHA. Currently the residents pay a weekly sum of money to receive a cooked lunch each day in the main communal area. The lunch not only provides the residents with a nutritious freshly cooked meal, but also a daily opportunity to socialise.

On 25 October Alice Humphreys was joined by Bridget Lewis-Carr, and relatives of those affected to deliver a petition of 576 names to Mole Valley Housing Association. At a meeting with residents and their relatives on 28 October, MVHA announced that it is now proposing to keep the hot lunches service. This would be funded by continuing to have just one cook employed, and by increasing the charge to the residents for the meals service.

On hearing the news, Alice said ""I am delighted that MVHA has finally listened to the residents' opposition to scrapping the service. The decision will be made in December or January but it now seems likely that the service will be retained.""