CONCERNED town councillors will demand answers over the future of Sidmouth’s under-threat Stowford Lodge at a specially arranged meeting next Monday, June 6.

CONCERNED town councillors will demand answers over the future of Sidmouth’s under-threat Stowford Lodge at a specially arranged meeting next Monday, June 6.

And residents have been urged to give NHS officials a grilling over the future of the valued lifeline for dementia, Alzheimer’s and memory loss sufferers and their carers.

Frustrated civic leaders organised the meeting, at the Arts Centre in Station Road at 6.30pm, over fears the town was being “fobbed off” by health chiefs.

They last month expressed concerns “a decision has already been made.”

Iain Tulley, a Devon Partnership NHS Trust representative, will next Monday give a presentation then discuss the future of Stowford Lodge.

He was due to address Sidmouth Town Council in April but was unable to attend.

Dr Virginia Pearson, joint executive director of public health for NHS Devon and Devon County Council, had told town councillors the authority proposes

to sell the Stowford Lodge premises – but vowed patients and the public will be consulted.

Ian Skinner, chairman of the Sidmouth Locality Health and Care Team, has lamented the ‘loss’ of Stowford Lodge.

He has called on carers and residents, who have family, relatives or a neighbour who suffers from memory loss conditions and who need respite, to go shopping or have time on their own, to attend the meeting.

“Such a facility had been provided at Stowford Lodge,” he said.