Potters Court and Erskine Court restaurants to close

Elderly and disabled people living at Potters Court and Erskine Court have been told they will only have access to vending machines and a microwave from the end of the month.

In a letter to residents, seen by the Echo, the council said this was due to “a significant financial shortfall”.

The restaurant at Potter Court (Image: Ross Marshall)

Potters Court has 83 apartments and 24-hour on site care for disabled residents.

Resident Sandy Jhonson, 67, said: “Without the restaurant many of the disabled residents here will have to move out.

“Some of the residents here have been down to the restaurant every morning and every night, they rely on it for specific dietary requirements and a healthy meal.

“How is a vending machine going to provide them the same care?

Sandy Johnson holding up a letter given to all residents upon moving in, claiming the restaurant will provide support to residents (Image: Ross Marshall)

“For others who have mobility issues it is the only time they get to socialise – taking it away will isolate them and many rarely have visitors.

“It is going to have massive implications on their quality of life and mental health.”

Mark Lendon, 50, suffered from a stroke when he was 18 months old. He also has Cerebral Palsy and cannot use is left hand.

He said: “We pay a lot of money to live here – and many of the residents chose Potters Court as they knew that the restaurant would be available to them.

Mark Lendon moved to Potters Court as he needed the support provided by the restaurant (Image: Ross Marshall)

“The staff at the restaurant are able to bring us food when we are not very well and are unable to get out of bed – what are we supposed to do if the restaurant is closed down.”

The restaurant is run by City Catering Southampton, which the council says is in no way at fault for the closure.

Corinne Maker, 58, moved to Potters Court for the support of the restaurant as her husband has vascular dementia.

She said: “The restaurant provides healthy meals for us that we just won’t get from a vending machine – this is wrong.

“This is going to make life so difficult – we moved here for these facilities.

Corinne Maker moved to Potters Court as she needed support from the restaurant in order to help her husband (Image: Ross Marshall)

“It will also put massive strain of the careers here that are already stretched thin, as they will have to pick up some of the restaurants duties.

“At Christmas time, we all gather in the restaurant as many of the residents here don’t have many visitors – they will be forced to sit alone on Christmas day and that just isn’t right.”

Andrea Webber, 76, who lives in Erskine Court, said: "We need this restaurant, we rely on the meals it provides.

"One of our residents here is blind, how on earth can he be expected to cook his own meals. I think it is disgusting that the council would take that away from the residents here."

Cllr Lorna Fielker, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing, Southampton City Council, said: “Following careful review, we have made the difficult decision to not renew the catering contract at Erskine Court and Potters Court when it ends in October.

"Both restaurants have been operating at under capacity for some time, making them unsustainable.

“We will be working closely with impacted residents over the coming weeks to ensure they are supported to make choices on the alternative options available to them.

"The food industry has developed significantly over the last few years, with access to hot food delivery becoming increasingly popular and offering an excellent choice of affordable and healthy options for people to choose from.

“Although the on-site catering service will end, the dining room will remain open. Residents will be able to use the space to enjoy food together, whether that’s via self-service options, food delivery services, or bringing their own food to share with friends.

"We’re also committed to developing the space to best meet residents’ nutritional and social wellbeing needs, potentially by organising regular activities and events and supporting the community to run their own coffee mornings or lunch clubs.”