'Cruel' IHC slammed for home closure | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Anger and disappointment boiled over in Taihape yesterday when the community was told its IHC residential home would be closed.

Families of the residents who live in Eagle St home, their advocates, Mayor Chalky Leary and Rangitikei MP Simon Power all expressed their disappointment at the lack of consultation by IHC New Zealand and IDEA Services on the way to making the decision to close the home and the Huia St day base.

Friends of Eagle St president Gayna Setter said consultation had not happened, the residents did not want to go and their advocates were angry.

She said George Howell, a 10-year resident at Eagle St, will think she has let him down: "George will be devastated."

An upset Mrs Setter, who was only told about the closure decision by the Chronicle, said she was "pretty mad they have not contacted me" and she believed IHC had made up its mind back in October.

The Chronicle has regularly asked for updates on what was happening with the Eagle St house since it first reported the story on February 24.

When IHC in Wellington was contacted again yesterday, the Chronicle received an emailed reply announcing the closures.

"They could have waited another five years. The four residents are so happy in their home, and now they want to ship them out. It's cruel."

Mrs Setter said they used a bequest left to Taihape to furnish the Eagle St home and clothe the residents, when they moved there from the IHC farm in 1984.

Anne McSweeney, the guardian of one of the residents who has lived in Taihape for 25 years, said she had written to the Health and Disability Commissioner Tania Thomas but her response was "totally unsatisfactory".

"She seems to think that because IDEA have provided her with dates, and transcripts of meetings, that they (IDEA) followed 'an appropriate consultation process'."

Ms McSweeney said that Ms Thomas overlooked her concerns about the wishes of the residents.

Mr Leary was quick to add his voice to yesterday's chorus of disappointment.

"I am the mayor and no one has consulted with me," Mr Leary said. "It's tragic and very very sad."

Mr Leary said he was to chair a meeting last month organised by Taihape Community Board councillor Jan Byford.  The meeting would have brought together concerned members of the Taihape community and IDEA Services, but it was cancelled by area manager Lynn Barker.

Mr Power, who is currently in New York, emailed his response.

"I am disappointed with the decision to close the IHC residential home in Taihape.

"I recently wrote to IDEA Services Wanganui area manager Lynn Barker to express the community's concerns over what the closure would mean for the residents, and to seek advice about what consultation had been undertaken. I have not heard back from her."

Mr Power said he would take the matter up urgently when he returned from New York, when he also planned on approaching IHC patron Rod Dean to express his concerns and the concerns of the 800 Taihape people who petitioned