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Save our laundry - Irene Ellis (17th Aug 2011 - 16:29:59) When the Peak Centre was built part of the building was for facilities for senior citizen of Liphook. Well for now we seem to have saved the Day Centre with fund raising and donations but there are probably a lot of Liphook people who do not know that on the side of the building there is a laundry room that provides a service for the elderly parishioners who find it difficult to wash and iron large items such as sheets etc. It is used by people who use the day centre but it is open to anyone at a charge of £6 a bag. It is run and supplemented by Age Concern. Unfortunately they have decided that it is going to become to costly to continue with this service so instead of trying to raise funds they have made an arrangement with the laundrette at the station shopping centre to take on the washing and they will give the supplement to the laundrette. Not very convenient for the Day Centre Users! I and many people including some of the original Age Concern committee think it would be terrible to loose this personal service without making any effort to keep it open. Once it is closed we will never get it back and Liphook has far more elderly people than it has ever had. I thought Age Concern with there vast amount of money was about helping the elderly not closing facilities and making it more difficult for them. Not supplementing local businesses. If there are enough of us that feel this should not happen maybe it could be stopped. I do know that the facility could take on more customers. What do the talk back readers think about it? Remember we all get old and maybe in the future we will be glad to use these facilities ourselves but if they close now they will not be there for us. Any idea’s?

Re: Save our laundry - liz (17th Aug 2011 - 18:02:40) How much do Age Concern expect to save with their new arrangements? I am quite surprised they are not fully in support of the exisitng arrangements.

Re: Save our laundry - Stephen (17th Aug 2011 - 19:11:11) I am right behind you on this one Irene Ellis. I know people who use the service and its location is really convenient to them. Who is making all these decisions at Age Concern and have the people using the laundry been consulted. What about the relly nice lady that did the laundry.

Re: Save our laundry - maureen (18th Aug 2011 - 16:00:01) What a sad state of affairs that another property will become empty if the laundry is closing at the back of The Day Centre. This facility was provided for the village over 20 years ago to assist the elderly with their washing a very useful and supportive facility for those on their own and for those with a family it gives them peace of mind knowing that their elderly realitives are being catered for and helped. I was under the impression that Age Concern works to help the elderly no doubt we will be told that it is because of funding that yet another facility has to go!!. The lady who runs the laundry on their behalf works really hard and is always so cheerful even though she is elderly herself the washing is always ready washed dried and ironed when I collect it for my neighbour. Lets hope that a solution could be arrived at quickly after all the government seem to want the elderly to remain independent and in their own homes and this is where Age Concern is another link to help.

Re: Save our laundry - Katy (19th Aug 2011 - 09:09:42) Shame on you Age Concern! You are meant to be supporting projects for the elderly and infirm not making life more difficult for them! This facility had been running successfully for years so why change it now for the sake of penny pinching - some things are worth paying for. A charity that claims to support the elderly should be doing just that, not making life more difficult. There are too many cuts being made to the old and vulnerable both in local and central government without charities joining in too. A close relative attends the Bordon Day Centre one day a week and funding has recently been withdrawn by East Hants District Council. This means her daily rate has increased from £3.20 to £42.75, yes over forty pounds! Remember this when deciding who to vote for in the by-election. Let's hope Age Concern will have a change of heart Katy

Re: Save our laundry - Jenny (19th Aug 2011 - 09:55:10) If it is a question of replacement of machines and their upkeep, couldn't Age Concern try and get sponsorship and/or a donation from (say) a washing machine supplier/manufacturer? I don't know the details of the laundry, but did the lovely lady also do the ironing? - that can't happen in a launderette!

Re: Save our laundry - Robin Yoiung (19th Aug 2011 - 11:25:35) In reponse to the above critics I will set out the true facts. I am Chairman of Age Concern Liphook. We are a local charity operating only in the Liphook Parish. We together with most of the Hampshire Age Concerns have elected to stay out of the National Orgainsatkion Age UK. Our funds will be only used for the benefit of the Elderly and needy in Liphook. As detailed in the Community Magazine in the Summer. As regards the Laundry, the only thing changing is that the Laundry will as from 1st December be done by the Launderette in Station Rd. It will be washed dried AND IRONED and turned round in 48 hours as now. They are purchasing the ironing board from us and will start from that date. The cost will remain the same for the users. The reason for the closure of the Age Concern Support Laundry is that it is currently losing over £150 per week. Age Concern Liphook would rather their funds go to more needy causes and not be wasted. Of the 15 clients who use the laundry at present only 7 are really in need of it. Diane, the laundress is in her eighties and deserves to retire, to enjoy the rest of her life. The lease is due for renewal in December and we have to give 6 months notice. We were paying only £50 per year a few years ago, before the Investment Company bought up the whole site. The lease is now £750 per year and due to rise this year again, probably double. Together with rising electricity/gas etc, the loss would be huge. I would not ask anyone to fund a large losing cause. If you want any more information, please give me ring or email robin.young11@btinternet.com

Re: Save our laundry - maureen (19th Aug 2011 - 14:10:44) I was very interested to read your explanation regarding the Support laundry and the fact that you say there are only 7 who really need it to run what is the difference with the other 8. Is it because some are in need of their washing being washed in the special sluice machine which if my memory serves me right was the reason one was fitted within the Support laundry to deal with really soiled washing which unfortunately does happen as people get older. Regarding the finance to keep the laundry up and running were any of the local people approached to help with funding some of the costs it would certainly be good publicity for them knowing they were helping something that they might need to use in their old age.Were the lottery people approached as I did see on another thread that you said you knew how to go about it - just a thought!!

Re: Save our laundry - Robin Young (19th Aug 2011 - 15:41:29) Re the subject of soiled clothes/bedding etc, new regulations (health & safety) came in a few years ago where nothing was allowed to leave the premises where they were soiled, they must be rinsed off before laundering. Yes, in the first place our Laundry was for incontinence etc, but not now. As regards the other 8, they use us for convenience it seems, no objections to that of course. It helps offset the costs.

Re: Save our laundry - Katy (19th Aug 2011 - 15:46:05) Hi Robin Have you asked the lease holder to re-consider the costs in the current economic climate? Also, are they aware of the service it is providing the community? Perhaps they could be asked to support the service? Also, how is the laundry to be delivered and collected to and from Station Road? Thanks Katy

Re: Save our laundry - Robin Young (19th Aug 2011 - 16:00:03) Yes the lease was re-negotiated last time from £1300 down to £750 and now will be in excess of £1500. Station Road is only round the corner. The volunteers who help us collect and deliver are quite happy to go to Station Rd. As regards the Day Centre people, surely someone from there can do this.

Re: Save our laundry - Katy (20th Aug 2011 - 14:15:29) Hi Robin Have you checked with the day centre that they have enough volunteers to do this? I believe they may have to keep an certain number of staff on site s may not be able to run errands? Just a thought.... Katy

Re: Save our laundry - Robin Y (21st Aug 2011 - 17:51:45) Yes, they have a lot of drivers who bring customers and collect them. Surely one of those could oblige to help the old folk.

Re: Save our laundry - katy (22nd Aug 2011 - 09:33:56) I think from your response Robin that you haven't checked with the Day Centre to see if they can deliver/collect from the laundry, is this assumption correct? I would also think it is difficult enough to get volunteer drivers already without asking them to run soiled laundry backwards and forwards too. It would seem this has not been fully thought through. I would ask that age concern consider this decision quickly!

Re: Save our laundry - PeterW (22nd Aug 2011 - 10:27:49) If, as stated above the reason soiled laundry has to be rinsed before it leaves the site of the soiling, due to \'elf n safety,how does that change from doing it at the Peak Centre and moving it to the laundrette? Is the laundrette going to the peoples houses and rinsing out the soiled laundry first or that being ignored as irrelevant?

Re: Save our laundry - annehall (22nd Aug 2011 - 19:06:44) Could I just point out a fact regarding the laundry and drivers at the Day Centre. There are 3 volounteers who drive regularly for the Clients over the 3 days but I have to add that some Clients travel in on the Liphook Shuttle some are brought by taxi and some by family members. The 3 drivers cover a large area for us so please do not assume we have lots of drivers we could really do with some more volunteers to drive for us. We are grateful to Volunatry Care who step in at times to help if our regular drivers are away so trust this answers the query about our drivers.

Re: Save our laundry - Katy (23rd Aug 2011 - 09:19:05) Robin, it's me again. I have re-read this thread and I am still concerned with some of your answers which seem to raise more questions with me! If the laundry currently makes a loss of £150 a week can you not try to off set this? Maybe increase the weekly cost from £6 to £10 ( a bargain for a bag of laundy I think). Then make a concerted attempt to increase usage, another ten people a week would take you out of the red. I am convinced hardly anyone in Liphook knows of this facility and am sure there must be lots of families doing washing for elderly relatives and neighbours which would love to use the service if they knew about it. Why not contact Gabrielle at the Liphook Herald and Graham at the Petersfield Post to highlight this issue. Come on Age Concern let's be proactive. I really don't want this facility to be lost for the village. Local councillors what do you think? Katy

Re: Save our laundry - thea (23rd Aug 2011 - 10:35:40) I am desperate to find a laundry to help with the sheets and bedding of my extended family! Will happily pay £10 a bag.

Re: Save our laundry - Katy (23rd Aug 2011 - 15:34:42) There you go Robin, another customer already! Come on please respond and please re-think. I am sure this facility can be run without a loss if it is properly promoted. I am happy to look at the accounts if this helps. What are your plans if the laundry in Station Road closes? I hope it will remain for many years but no-one knows what the business plan is for a company unless they are the owner. Remember everyone, once this facility is lost it is gone for ever. Come on Liphook get behind this fantastic facility. Katy

Re: Save our laundry - ian (23rd Aug 2011 - 17:10:00) I seem to remember when the houses were built on the grounds of chiltlee manor that the peak centre was provided by the builders as a sweetener for the loss of the lovely parkland setting. Was it run by the peak centre trust ?Was the laundry part of the package ? If so, why has the ownership fallen into the hands of another organisation . What would they do with the building if they price the laundry out of existence? I also recall the laundry being increased in size in the late 1990's. YES ENLARGED ! Katy has raised some important issues and ideas. Lets hope that common sense prevails

Re: Save our laundry - j logan (24th Aug 2011 - 16:20:24) my mum is diane the lady whom washes and irons the laundry. she has been doing the job for many years,not just for the wage, but also to get out and meet the community. She is 82 in october, which is alot of years over the 65 retirement age....but she loves it...if she had her own way she would carry on working till she could no more. This is my mums life, she doesn't want to sit at home and drink tea and watch tv... my mum is not just losing her job, but her way of life as well.

Re: Save our laundry - Dee (24th Aug 2011 - 17:53:48) Whilst I am all for lobbying and fighting to save good projects, I do feel this one is getting a little out of hand. I would just like to say that I know Robin Young extremely well and he cares enormously about the health and welfare of the elderly. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that these individuals are aware of all the different facilities available etc. However, Robin (and his team of Trustees) also feel a responsibility to all those kind souls who have bequeathed money 'for the care of the elderly in the community'. Surely it is not right to take the attitude that 'Age Concern has plenty of money' and therefore if thousands is being spent on losses it doesn't matter. We will always have an elderly community that needs assistance and therefore it is imperative that the money is used carefully, advisedly and wisely. The Trustees did not reach this decision lightly but they are satisfied that the laundry needs will still be met just as competently without incurring something in the region of a £6000 debt for rent, wages, lighting etc. The Trustees can now put this money towards another worthwhile cause. Perhaps some of you feel that he is 'just a typical Chairman' making impartial decisions but I can assure you he is not like that at all. He runs countless errands for the elderly (which includes collecting laundry); is actively seeking funds to make sure the Senior Citizens Lunch Club remains viable and healthy and is always willing to meet any individual who wishes to discuss things in further detail. Finally, a Chairman does not have a vote. This decision was made by the Trustees and, by their very title, we are supposed to trust them to do what is best.

Re: Save our laundry - Katy (24th Aug 2011 - 18:19:14) Dee I believe the deficit for the year end 2010/11 was only £500 not thousands. As previously stated this could surely be addressed by lobbying for more clients and by a slight increase in charges to the clients. I am sorry but this still does not add up to me. Also Robin's lack of response to my questions is now beginning to concern me. Just why has this been decided without more consultation? I am sure Robin has the best intentions but so do the rest of us. No-one wants to see money go to waste however no-one wants to see a good service lost either. Please ask Robin if all points have been taken in to account as he doesn't seem to be answering me on here! Thanks Katy

Re: Save our laundry - Former Liphook Resident (25th Aug 2011 - 11:40:59) Is the Laundry under the control of the Peak Centre Committee or is it completely separate? If it is part of the Peak Centre the Parish Council are Custodian Trustees and as such do they not have input to such an important decision?

Re: Save our laundry - annehall (25th Aug 2011 - 15:47:26) In reply to the post regarding the laundry this is run by the Trustees of Age Concern Liphook and seperate from the Liphook Day Centre so trust this answers your query.The laundry is run from the small building at the side of the Peak Centre premises which unfortunately not a lot of people who are new to the area are aware of !!

Re: Save our laundry - Irene Ellis (27th Aug 2011 - 13:00:22) I agree with you Katy on all fronts. What happens if the station laundry decided that even with the new clients it is still not worth keeping open and closes it, and there is no guarantee that it wont, what happens then as it is a private business that we have no control over? The government are trying to keep elderly people in their own homes as long as they can but washing sheets getting them dry and ironing them is extremely hard for them and we have more and more elderly in the village as people live longer. I also cannot make the figures I have seen make sense. I really feel that not enough consultation has gone into this. Who are the trustees that made the decision and is there no way we can have a meeting to discuss the financial situation in full and ask them to defer the closing for a year so that we have time to find out if there are ways to make it profitable as now it has been brought to the communities attention they may be a great many more people who will use it. Of course we do trust the trustees but now it has come to the attention of the general public, and business become aware of the situation, new idea’s may come forward. As it is such an asset to the community it would be a tragedy to see it close. Irene

Re: Save our laundry - amy (3rd Sep 2011 - 16:47:20) I totally agree Irene the situation regarding the laundry closing at the back of the Day Centre is very sad indeed.Both you and Katy have made some good points especially if the Station Road laundry should close then where will the elderly get help ? I read in the Community Magazine that any difference with the cost for washing being done at the Station Road laundry will be met by Age Concern so how much is that difference ? It seems wrong that a purpose built facility already fitted out with equipment that yes may need replacing at sometime should be closed down!. Perhaps in time to come we will have people saying thay wish the laundry was still here just like another thread at the moment where people are wishing they had butchers greengrocers etc. but too late they all closed just like the laundry. Incidentially Irene and Katy did the Trustees come forward with their explanations I read that you had asked for a meeting with them ??

Re: Save our laundry - Katy (12th Sep 2011 - 18:42:40) Hi Amy Thanks for your support. Sorry not to resond earlier but I have been on holiday. I e-mailed Robin Young directly with five questions as his claims on this website did not agree with the laundry's audited accounts. E.G. It was stated the laundry loses £150 a week when according to the accounts it is actually £9.65 per week which could easily be rectified. Unfortunately Robin did not answer any of my questions regarding the financial discrepancies quoted on here when reviewed against the published accounts so I have asked if I can attend the next trustee meeting to ask the committee directly. I will let you know how I get on. By the way you may be interested to know the accounts show a balance of over £40,000 enough to keep the laundry running for over 40 years! Where is this cash going to be allocated I wonder? Regards Katy

Re: Save our laundry - concerned (15th Sep 2011 - 09:14:53) To stop all this back biting, the Peak Centre had a large fund of money, They can take it over and run it. There will be no changes then!

Re: Save our laundry - Katy (15th Sep 2011 - 15:39:40) Attn : Concerned The Peak Centre does not have a large amount of money as far as I am aware, I believe they were in deficit until a large amount of fund raising has been done this year by many volunteers. If you are truly concerned you will be asking the same questions as I am. What happens if the Station Road launderette closes, how the laundry is going to be transferred there and back, and what exactly is the £40k in the laundry account going to be allocated to. I believe there is an Age Concern meeting next week, if you are so concerned perhaps you could attend and offer some useful contribution? Thanks Katy

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