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Silverlands is ruled out as new home for Wolvercote Clinic In response to a Parliamentary Question tabled 4th July, 2002, it was confirmed by Home Office Minister, Hilary Benn, that Silverlands will NOT become the home of the Wolvercote paedophile clinic currently based in Epsom, Surrey. This news is received following ten months of peaceful and organised campaigning by YOU and so many other untiring people from villages around Silverlands. And like you, the Silverlands Action Campaign have resolutely stood by their view that Silverlands is an entirely unsuitable location for this type of facility, not least because Silverlands directly overlooks a number family homes and schools. The Home Office say that their decision to rule out Silverlands was
based on the following factors The Silverlands Action Campaign are pleased that the perseverance to communicate widely the genuine reasons why Silverlands is a wholly inappropriate siting for the clinic have been recognised by the Government. Throughout the campaign, its was stressed that there is a need for a proper review of how our society as a whole deals with paedophiles. Adequate resources, treatment programmes, education and communication is essential and the Silverlands Action Campaign support the apparent view of the Home Office Minister, Mr Hilary Benn that a proper nation-wide review is now needed. Hilary Benn and the Home Office project team have made clear that they appreciated the open and civilised dialogue that they have had with our community. The Home Office has accepted that they made mistakes in dealing with the proposed relocation of the Wolvercote clinic. The decision to close the existing clinic is a consequence of the lack of proper consideration by the Government. They know and accept this, and it is to their credit that they have acknowledged this. The Silverlands Action Campaign do not believe that residential treatment centres for paedophiles should be located in residential areas, and will continue with our campaign for a more sensible and sustainable solution. It is unacceptable for these centres to be simply thrust upon communities with no proper planning or regard for the impact on local residents. The Home Office decision [originally made back in May 2001] to relocate the clinic to Silverlands was put under review in October last year by Beverley Hughes, the then Minister in charge of this decision. Beverley Hughes confirmed to the Silverlands Action Campaign in October last year that the decision to "choose" Silverlands was accepted by the Home Office as being flawed. The Silverlands Action Campaign would like to thank everyone who contributed towards this campaign: the community, the local businesses, the press and the Runnymede Borough Council. The monies raised during the campaign, which was originally planned to help fund a legal challenge should it have been necessary, will now be donated to the White Lodge Centre for children with disabilities. About Silverlands Action Campaign The Silverlands Action Campaign accepts the need for the prevention of child sex abuse and does not condone the need for this type of facility. However, an institution [housing and] treating persons who are by their very nature a serious danger to children should not be opened in a location so heavily populated by children. We do not believe any community in a democratic country should have a facility like this planned and implemented in secrecy without any consultation with the community and their elected representatives. The Silverlands Action Campaign is a community group with no party political affiliations. Email your questions to: Silverlandsgroup@hotmail.com
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