On Saturday 22nd August 2015 Jim Allister MLA and Mid and East Antrim Deputy Mayor Cllr Timothy Gaston joined the Unison protest at the proposed closure of Pinewood Residential Care Home in Ballymena.
Commenting, Jim Allister MLA said:
“It is my pleasure to join with Unison and others who are here to offer my full support to Pinewood, the staff and most importantly the residents who rely on their excellent service.
“There has been a deliberate effort by the DUP to close residential care homes, do not be deceived by those who pretend the closure agenda is all the work of the Trust and that the minister is blameless.
“Make no mistake, the Trust is but a front organisation for the department, doing the minister’s bidding. The surreptitious agenda is based on closure by stealth. The denial of new admissions -which is the minister’s policy – is designed to deny the homes viability and makes a mockery of the consultation. You can’t deny admissions and then conduct a consultation which is anything other than farcical and preordained in its intended outcome.
“Likewise the assurance that no resident will be forced out is not worth as much as it seems, because of the minister’s caveat “so long as it is safe for them to stay”. When the time comes, I fear, many a supposed health and safety concern will be contrived to speed the process.”
Cllr Timothy Gaston continued:
“Pinewood provides a much needed and valued service in Ballymena, one which residents believe is the best they can receive. It is shocking that this wonderful home has been subjected to repeated attempts to closure and have been banned from taking any new admissions.
“It is time for everyone to get behind the campaign to save Pinewood.”