Campaigners celebrate after council u-turn on closure of Eastbourne disability day service
Initial plans to shut Linden Court were signed off in April
Councillors have appealed a decision to shut an Eastbourne disability day centre, after months of campaigns from residents.
It's after plans were signed off back in April to permanently close Linden Court's doors to help local social care budgets.
The site, based on the Birch Industrial Estate, supports 44 people.
Local families first protested against closure in the autumn of 2024, including a demonstration outside the centre.
Sophie Ticehurst, who's been leading them, said: "The Linden Court Community are overjoyed that the decision to close this vital day service has been reconsidered by ESCC and their Cabinet members today.
"Linden Court provides vulnerable families with much needed support for their loved ones within their local community, where they have formed relationships with peers and staff members.
"It provides activities to help promote clients’ development and supports them to continue living within their home environments for as long as possible.
Campaigners: "Long, tiresome and extremely stressful 9 months"
"It has been a long, tiresome and extremely stressful 9 months for the clients and their families during which time we have challenged financial costs and presented real facts to ESCC to maintain the service.
"We now wish to move on and continue with our lives as they were and hope ESCC will develop the service to ensure its future growth”.
Local MP Josh Babarinde, who raised the issue in parliament, said:
“I’m relieved that after months of our campaigning, Conservative councillors have listened to local families and reversed their disastrous plans to close Linden Court.
This a fight that never should have had to happen in the first place. I want to pay special tribute to the campaigners who worked tirelessly to protect this vital service, particularly Sophie Thornton, fighting for her brother jack and so many others.
It’s been a privilege to stand alongside them – raising the issue in Parliament, protesting outside Linden Court, and meeting with councillors to keep up the pressure."