Text of Councillor Frances Barden's presentation at public meeting at Lyne Village Hall on 21st October 2001.

As a number of you are aware, I attended a meeting with the National Probation Service, part of the Home Office, which was chaired by Eithne Wallis, the National Director. This on/off, on/off meeting finally took place when they knew they had their backs to the wall and had to come clean and admit they were considering the relocation of Wolvercote Sex Offenders Clinic to Silverlands. Albeit I have since found out a decision had been made on this as far back as May without consultation with appropriate persons, i.e. Runnymede Council for a start or even Philip Hammond our M.P.

With their failure before and after this meeting to give the facts in full, at this moment in time I am very hesitant to believe their presentation, in fact I came away with a feeling of distrust and disbelief.

I feel we, the public have been hoodwinked, kept in the dark, and if this had not leaked out to the press, it most likely would have gone ahead behind closed doors and we would have found out too late to fight against it. No consideration has been given to the children in the close proximity of Silverlands, nor those in the local vicinity. In the grounds of St. Peters Hospital, directly opposite Silverlands, there are two childrens wards, the baby unit, 2 nursery schools for pre-school children, a crèche. On top of this there are children who are attending Out Patients or just visiting family and friends. There are also children in the staff residences.

There is also White Lodge Centre, Lyne & Longcross Infants School - add to this children who live in the surrounding area. All of the aforementioned are in what I consider a 'vulnerable' category and all within easy walking distance of Silverlands. Add to this the 3 schools in Ottershaw and children who live there, Manorcroft, Salesian and William Perkins Schools. Together with Recreation Grounds and Homewood Park in Stonehills Road (a popular park frequently visited by families), it makes the mind boggle and I wonder what idiot did the research on this site and decided that Silverlands was an appropriate place for a Paedophile Centre.

From figures given by the National Probation Service I have worked out that out of 250 men who passed through Wolvercote Since 1995, 14% of this figure have re-offended and of the 85% left - who knows. Also no answer was given when asked how many had absconded, a very veiled reply was given.

Runnymede Council is now pressing for early clarification, both of the Home Office intentions and those of the Dept, of Health in relation to Silverlands. Runnymede Council itself recognised the very considerable concern that has been generated by these initial proposals and the way they have been handled by the Home Office.

I would say here that this concern is felt so deeply that a motion for debate at a Full Council Meeting attended by all Runnymede Councillors, is trying to be arranged to be included in this weeks Meeting, Thursday, 25 October. Basically the motion will be to make representation to the Home Secretary, Mr. Blunkett, to withdraw the proposal having regard to the location in close proximity of various schools and children's units, and the problems of staff recruitment and retention in this area.

Confirmation of this I will not know until early in the week. All Council Meetings are open to the public, 7.30 start. I will inform you if this is going ahead.

Before handing over to Philip Hammond, Eithne Wallis, The National Director, has said she is going away to re-assess the proposal. I say you, the public, and I, your elected councillor, should help her in this re-assessment by objecting vehemently and standing up for ourselves to fight this one as residents who are entitled to speak and have our voices heard. We are forever being told that this Government portrays itself as 'open and inclusive'. By the handling of this case I think not and it leads me to wonder what else I don't know and possibly should.

End

Note: Cllr Barden has told us that her reason for not disclosing information earlier was that the information had not been confirmed. She felt a responsibility to get confirmation before "going public".