Nimbys use their children for protest

PROTESTERS STORM HEALTH MEETING
By Catherine Lillington, Birmingham Mail

ic Birmingham.co.uk, UK: 10 July 2007
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/breakingnews/tm_headline=protesters-storm-health-meeting&method=full&objectid=19432287&siteid=50002-name_page.html
Or, http://tinyurl.com/2nvyt4

ANGRY families campaigning against plans for a mental health unit on
their doorstep stormed an AGM of health bosses.

The 50-strong group of men, women and children turned up on a bus at
the AGM of the Birmingham East and North Primary Care Trust, in Sutton
Coldfield, last night.

At first only five protesters were allowed inside the meeting at the
Ramada Hotel, in Penns Lane.

But they argued for women and children left stranded outside in the
rain to be able to come in and have their say.

A group of children then carried a banner into the packed hall which
said: "No murderers, no rapists, no paedophiles, no to medium secure
unit".

The Safer Communities Group are furious about the bid for an 80-bed,
all-male facility which will be built on the site of the former
Yardley Green Hospital, in Bordesley Green.

The residents want health ministers and primary care trust bosses to
immediately scrap plans for the controversial hospital, which they say
would put families at risk of attack and create fear.

Umar Ali, of the group, said the new facility would be in a
densely-populated area, near schools and parks.

He told the meeting: "The reason why we brought our children to this
meeting is so perhaps you will be able to explain to them why you are
putting their safety at risk.

"We've travelled all the way from Bordesley Green to bring to this
meeting our concerns.

"We want to show you this is our community and we're not going to go
away."

The protesters also asked for the land to be sold for housing which
they said was needed locally.

Sophia Christie, chief executive of the PCT, said there was no
evidence the unit would present a risk to the community.

She added: "We are very concerned with how you feel about it but there
will be benefits in terms of regenerating the site."

After the meeting Zaiba Ashraf, whose eight-year-old son Araysh helped
carry the banner across the room, said she feared for him and other
local children.

"I feel quite frightened as a mother," said the 28-year-old teaching
assistant.

"It's not safe on the streets at the moment as it is. They are using
us as a dumping ground."

Another mum Shakeela Adris, aged 35, said: "We are living in a
deprived inner-city area with lots of problems in need of tackling but
instead of dealing with them we are getting this unit.

"Bordesley Green isn't the right place for these people to be
rehabilitated."

MP Roger Godsiff (Lab, Sparkbrook and Selly Oak) urged the Government
to block the planned facility, which will be surrounded by a 5.8 metre
fence, as he led a Commons debate on the proposals last Wednesday.

Mr Godsiff said: "The people of Bordesley Green are extremely angry
and frustrated, and their opposition to the proposal has been
ignored."

He said residents accepted the hospital needed to close, but had
expected it to be replaced with urgently needed facilities such as
affordable housing, a new school or a general health centre.

"At the meetings which have been held in Bordesley Green, there was
overwhelming opposition from residents to the ideas that this site
should be used solely for mental health facilities, because of the
other needs of the area."

However Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said a number of changes to the
proposals had already been made due to local concerns and it was too
late to appeal against the development except on the basis that the
proper procedures had not been followed.

She said: "The development demonstrates that the NHS is actually
responding to public needs for a spectrum of services."
.

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