Sofia Pandolfi, Lambeth and Southwark Socialist Party

Central Hill is the only adult day centre specialised to assist people with dementia in the south London borough of Lambeth. Despite the essential services it provides, the centre is at risk of closure.

This closure is only part of the continued cuts to services by Lambeth Labour council, which has now been kicked out. Labour justified the closure by claiming not enough people use the service.

In reality, the number of people with dementia in the borough is increasing. But referrals to the centre have been turned away in recent months. With the potential closure, people with dementia and their families reliant on this service will have to seek support elsewhere. 

Unison union members working in Central Hill have been taking strike action, fighting to protect their jobs and the services the centre provides. They are on strike again on Friday 5 June. Socialist Party members have been supporting the picket line, and campaigning in support of the workers’ demands.

Following the May local elections, Green councillors are now the biggest party in Lambeth council. Greens now run the council, with the support of the Lib Dems.

Meet the strikers

Green councillors must now make it public that they will reverse the decision to close the centre, sending the bill to the crisis-ridden Labour government at Westminster. Green councillors must meet the Unison strikers to discuss implementing their specific demands – reverse the day centre closure, stop planned redundancies, and expand and fund dementia services.

It is crucial that Green councillors oppose all cuts to our public services. This includes fighting alongside workers to save Central Hill, and prevent people with dementia from being left without specialised assistance.

Taking such a stand, meeting with the trade union movement locally, would mark a chance for Green councillors to build a campaign to win back the funding stolen from Lambeth by Tory and Labour governments since 2010.

  • After the Socialist went to press on 2 June, Lambeth’s Green council leader announced an immediate pause of the planned closure and a review of the decision