Southampton City Council 'carried out no consultation' over closures

Jeremy Moulton, who represents Millbrook, has joined calls from residents - some of whom are vulnerable needing assisted living - to keep the restaurants open.

Southampton City Council has decided to end a catering contract at the end of the month as it says the restaurants have been 'under capacity for some time, making them unsustainable'.

As reported, the council is facing 'a significant financial shortfall' and is currently racing to save £16m this year.

Many elderly and disabled residents have come forward, saying that closing the restaurants will make their lives extremely difficult and have a huge impact on resident’s mental health.

The restaurant facilities at Erskine Court (Image: Ross Marshall)Cllr Moulton said: “There has been no consultation with the residents of Potters or Erskine Court or myself, as councillor for this ward.

“These closures will have a serious impact on residents, many of which blind or disabled and rely on the restaurant every day.

“The council should have brought up months ago and planned a formal consultation process with the residents.

“Personally, I believe this to be a panic response to the financial crisis that Southampton City Council currently find themselves in.”

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

Belinda Veal, 52, an employee of City Catering at Erskine Court, said: “This place is full of such lovely people that need this restaurant. It is not just the food but the social aspect.

“Some of the ladies are at the restaurant at 8am and don’t leave until we shut.

“We deliver food regularly to more than ten rooms, particularly to those that are blind or victims of a stroke – without us these people would not get a decent and healthy meal. We are a vital part of the community here.

City Catering Southampton delivers food directly to residents (Image: Ross Marshall)“The council are making a huge mistake.”

David Fletcher, 75, and resident of Erskine Court said: “We pay £165 a week to live here and many of us moved here specifically because we would have a restaurant available to us.

“Both the residents here and the catering staff have all been more than willing to sit down, review the menu and make the restaurant more profitable.

David Fletcher is a resident at Erskine and says the restaurant is a vital service (Image: Ross Marshall)Another resident of Erskine Court, Maggie White, 69, said: “Some of the residents here can only use one arm – how the hell can they be expected to cook a meal in their flat themselves?

“It is not only going to affect the mental wellbeing of many of the residents but is also a health and safety concern.”