A leading Dawlish pressure group has told of its 'total dismay' at the proposed closure of Daw Vale Residential Home. In a letter to county director of social services David Johnstone, Dare – Dawlish Against Ruining Everything – said it was essential to keep the home open and to expand facilities in the town for the elderly. The county council had a 'moral duty' to safeguard the facilities, the group said. The letter, sent by secretary Sandra Fabry, is reproduced here: The committee of Dare wishes to take this opportunity to record its total dismay over the threat of potential closure to the Daw Vale Residential Home. Age statistics supplied from your 2001 Census shows Dawlish has the second highest population aged 75-plus out of the seven parishes listed in the locality of Dawlish. This figure is also set to rise, in your estimation possibly by 20 per cent county-wide. We agree in certain cases it is possible there are people who may prefer to have community-based services to assist them in their own homes. The success or failure of this is largely governed by the physical and mental condition of that person and a huge amount of support from family. It would be very myopic to assume the current of future residents of care homes have either a surviving partner or family nearby able to carry out the necessary duties involved. Indeed, what is surely most important is choice – the chance for individuals, not county council, to decide what and where care is given. The inspector's report on the conditions and standards in Daw Vale make very disappointing reading. One would have hoped that all facilities including building, hygiene, equipment and specialist services should be client/patient driven, not inspectorate requirements. This report implies a lack of investment in the past for planned maintenance and progressive improvements that ensured the care home moved forward with current demands and regulations. Had this approach been taken then it is extremely unlikely Daw Vale would find itself in the current position. In the past few years Dawlish has seen a number of residential and day care facilities close. Dawlish requires more, not less, of these facilities and that is why it is so important to keep Daw Vale open and also to expand upon the facilities available for elderly care. The individuals who require these services are the most vulnerable. It is the county council's moral duty to safeguard these facilities where they are needed, in the heart of the community, as is the case in Dawlish. It is of paramount importance that Dawlish is not disadvantaged in any way.
