Prince quizzes health chiefs
PRINCE Charles has involved himself in a growing campaign to save a Lynn care home from closure.
The Prince of Wales is seeking answers from health chiefs over plans to shut purpose-built residential bungalows at Birch Tree Close, where the severely-disabled daughter of campaigners Bill and Jeanette Butt has lived for the last six years.
The campaigning couple wrote to Prince Charles asking for his support and reminded him that he had met and spoken with their daughter at the opening of True's Yard Fishing Museum in Lynn in 1993.
The determined parents, of Low Road, Congham, have now officially launched the Save Our Bungalows (SOB) campaign and hope to get a petition running in the next week with the help of West Norfolk Mencap.
The couple's daughter Tracey (43) is one of 19 residents at the home – a further three live at another home in Great Mans Way, Stoke Ferry – and all will be forced to move out if the homes are shut. Worried parents have not yet been told what provision will be made for their children.
Mr Butt told the Lynn News: "Some people may say we are fighting a lost cause, but we are making progress and won't give up."
In the latest development, Prince Charles has written to the chief executive of Norfolk Primary Care Trust requesting further information.
Mr and Mrs Butt are also celebrating the news Tracey is to receive legal aid, enabling them to pursue a judicial review case against the PCT over its plans to follow to the letter a Government policy scrapping all NHS "campus accommodation" by 2010.
They believe the closure of the bungalows which form part of the Park View Resource Centre will damage their daughter's health, a view echoed by Tracey's doctors.
As well as the continued backing of West Norfolk Mencap and other parents, Mr and Mrs Butt have also had offers of support from North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham, Norfolk county councillor Irene Macdonald and West Norfolk councillor Jean Mickleburgh.
Around 15 parents and family members attended a public meeting organised by the Butts earlier this month to bring together all those affected by the closure plans.
The couple also plan to lobby the Government and, if necessary, take Tracey's case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Mrs Butt said: "We are not activivists, we never have been, we just want the bungalows to stay open.
"We have made really valuable contact with other families. We hope to hold another meeting in April and the next step is to draw up our petition. A lot of people have said they are willing to help collect signatures.
"It's encouraging to know we are not on our own.Somebody has got to act as voice for these people who can't do it for themselves."
The Government plan is to bring people with learning disabilities into the community, but parents feel the specialist centre, just minutes from the town centre, bus station and hospital, is ideally located and already offers residents everything they need.
Norfolk PCT claims far from being a money-saving measure, the new system is likely to cost more and patients will not see a reduction in the quality of care.
To find out more about the campaign, call Mr and Mrs Butt on 01485 601442.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -5 C to 0 C
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