Waltham Forest councillors have voted to close the Markhouse Centre in Walthamstow for the second time, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

Campaigners and opposition councillors have roundly slammed Waltham Forest Council cabinet members who voted to close a day centre for disabled adults for the second time.

According to the council, the building, which has been open since the early 1980s, is considered to be in “poor condition” and there is a need for “considerable investment to ensure it is more fit for purpose”.

There are currently 48 residents with learning disabilities that regularly attend the centre. Of those, 15 are autistic and around a quarter have ‘profound and multiple learning disabilities’.

Local campaigner James O’Rourke, whose brother Tony uses the service, said today’s decision (11th March) was “disgraceful”, while Conservative group leader Emma Best remarked at the cabinet meeting that it was a “dark day for Waltham Forest”.

The Labour administration previously voted to close the Markhouse Road facility in December, but the decision was halted after it was revealed the council had used a consultancy firm it partly owned to ‘independently’ survey the building’s condition. Two fresh independent surveys were subsequently commissioned following criticism from opposition councillors and residents.

Norse Evolve Ltd, which Waltham Forest owns 25% of, said it would cost a total of £1.2million to restore the ‘ageing’ centre over the next 15 years. That figure comprised £915,000 to repair the building and a further £300,000 in contingency and consultancy costs.

The first independent survey, carried out by Hollis Global, said it would cost around £500,000 to maintain the building over ten years.

The council extrapolated a cost of £763,000 for an extra five years’ work, though this figure does not include the cost of replacing the heating system, priced between £195,000 and £215,000.

Spectrum Property Services’ survey, published in late February, offered an estimated cost of £984,000, which accounted for the heating upgrades.

Both figures excluded consultancy costs, which Norse put at £123,000. A council spokesperson previously said they “expected professional expert surveyors to arrive at different views”.

Councillor Louise Mitchell, the cabinet member for adult social care, gave three reasons for shuttering the Markhouse: the council’s desire to move to “people-based services” over “building-based services,” ensuring the council  stays financially afloat, and the “quality of the building”.

She told the cabinet that, all told, there was only around a £100,000 difference between the highest and lowest estimates and those reasons “continued to be relevant”.

She said in a statement, issued after the meeting: “We recognise the positive impact the Markhouse Centre has had on residents that attend and understand that this decision will be difficult for people who have a connection to the centre.

“Like all councils across the country, we are facing significant financial challenges amid increasing demand and costs for services. The Markhouse Centre is no longer suitable and would require significant financial investment to make it fit for purpose.”

The council’s budget for 2025/26 will see council tax go up by 4.99% next month and the town hall look to make £23m in cuts over the coming years.

It has already reduced council tax support for low-income residents and cut dedicated funding for Age UK Waltham Forest’s ‘befriending service,’ saying it wants to expand it to anyone aged 18 and over.

O’Rourke, whose brother Tony attends the centre, stated the decision was “evidence of a lack of democracy in Waltham Forest”.

He said: “The decision to close the Markhouse Centre today is nothing short of a betrayal.

“It disregards the needs of some of the most vulnerable members of our community – people with disabilities who rely on these services for support, dignity, and connection.”

He said the decision “cannot go unchallenged” and he would be “seeking expert advice on pursuing a judicial review”.

At today’s meeting, Cllr Best urged cabinet members to vote against the closure, eight months after it was earmarked for closure.

She said: “I’m not sure we have looked into every other avenue available.

“I know there are no easy options and there are tough choices, but I don’t believe this is a choice the cabinet has to make.”

After around 15 minutes of discussion, the cabinet unanimously agreed to close the Markhouse Centre for the second time.

The proposals to close the centre have long been a cause of upset for the relatives of people who use the service. They previously accused the council of “causing unnecessary suffering” to their families.

Cllr Best said her group would request the decision goes before the social care scrutiny committee for a third time.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Today’s decision marked a very dark day for Waltham Forest. The evidence presented to close the Markhouse Centre was flawed and misrepresented.

“We now have vulnerable residents and families in a state of flux about what the future holds for them.”

Other relatives said they were “angered” by the decision, with some saying it would cause “heartache” and “grief” for both themselves and service users.

No date has yet been given for when the centre will close.

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