2 November 2001
Ms Beverly Hughes
Junior Minister
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London
SW1H 9AT
Dear Ms Hughes,

Proposed Clinic at Silverlands, Chertsey Surrey

As a mother of two small children I am writing to express my objections to the proposed development, which is within ¼ mile of my home.
I have a number of questions to which I would appreciate a written answer. I am happy to share this response with the local committee which has been specifically set up to oppose the development;
1 Please clarify my understanding of the proposed use. Will there be a secure unit alongside a clinic and will the clients be those considered mentally ill or diagnosed with personality disorders?
2 Assuming part of the development to include a secure unit, will clients be held under Mental Health legislation or criminal law?
3 Please provide some academically validated evidence that paedophiles and other sex offenders can be treated successfully. I am finding it difficult to appreciate the purpose of a clinic in the first instance given that a number of colleagues who have worked with such a client group do not believe this to be the case.
4 Please describe the proposed staff training regime and the safety procedures which will be put in place to protect the local community. How successful have similar procedures been in relation to the Epsom clinic and Broadmoor hospital etc (about which I have heard anecdotal evidence of a number of alarming incidents). How will the risk assessment take into account visitors of clients who themselves are statistically more likely be paedophiles or similar?
5 Please explain under what legislation the proposed development was kept hidden from the local community. I understand our local democratically elected Councillors and local authority Chief executive were 'gagged' over several months from bringing this matter to our attention. How does this stack up against this administration's promise to the electorate of 'Open Government'?
6 Who was responsible for the feasibility study to consider the siting of the establishment? How on earth were factors such as the close proximity of the local schools, nurseries, playgroups, disabled children centre and hospital so conveniently set aside? Were the principles of best value, eg compare, challenge, compete, consult and option appraisal adhered to? If not, why not given that the Government has enforced such an approach on many service areas within the public sector. Please may I be provided with a copy of the feasibility study.
7 Have the proposals taken into account the potential for the local authority to have a rehousing obligation towards clients leaving the centre and if so how have these been addressed?
8 Following the recent strong local community objections which I fully support, BBC television announced that your office is now considering alternative options. How true is this, how is it being resourced and what is the timescale? Given point 3 even if you were to consider an alternative site how would you be able to justify its purpose to any local community?

Friends of mine have received written responses to their letters of objection in a relatively short timescale. I would appreciate it if you could do the same for me

Yours sincerely

(Copied to Phillip Hammond, MP, Councillor Francis Barden,, Silverlands Action Campaign, Councillor Woodger)