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Deadlock in talks on mental health centre
Court tells lawyers and Camden to
come to agreement
LAWYERS representing a mental health centre facing closure
were last night locked in talks with Camden Council after a
High Court judge gave them a week to come to an amicable solution.
But seven days has not proved adequate for advocates debating
the future of the Jamestown Centre in Adelaide Road, Swiss Cottage,
which won a last minute reprieve last week as the New Journal
has learned they have begged an extra day from the court.
If both sides can’t come to an agreement today (Thursday),
they will have to re-embark on a costly High Court hearing.
Camden’s social services chief Geethika Jayatilaka gave
the go-ahead for the closure of the day centre in October, in
the face of noisy protests and ignoring warnings the decision
could lead to health problems for centre users.
Last week the council and users were sent to round table talks
when Mr Justice Walker, presiding, realised there had been no
formal mediation between centre users and the council. He ordered
both sides to go away and consider a compromise.
Solicitor Saimo Chahal, acting for the day centre users, has
condemned the council’s handling of the decision to close.
Speaking after last week’s hearing Ms Chahal, of human
rights firm Bindman and Partners said she believed the council
had backed down after realising the case for saving Jamestown
was “unassailable”.
She said: “It is not surprising that the council indicated
they were willing to consider quashing, setting aside or reviewing
the decision of their Executive Committee to close the Jamestown
Centre. They also had to concede they should pay the claimants
legal costs.”
She added: “The council and Islington and Camden Mental
Health NHS Trust have engaged in a cynical exercise in carrying
out community care reviews of the needs of the users, after
they had made a decision to close the centre. This again is
a flawed decision which the council will be obliged to address.
“It has been a pleasure acting for the claimants in this
case, a group of users who have been united in their efforts
to keep the Jamestown open, because in their words – it
is the best day centre in north London.
“I have been impressed with their enthusiasm, their eagerness
to pursue their just cause and their support for each other.
It is rare to see a community of people united in this way against
arbitrary decisions by those in positions of power over them.”
A Camden Council spokesman said: “We are still in discussions.
We’ve spoken to the court and we’ve got until Thursday
tomorrow to complete talks. If we don’t come to a conclusion
we’ll come before the court.” |
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