THERE are concerns for the future of a popular café and garden centre which provides help for people with disabilities after it did not reopen following the pandemic.

The Roundwood Cafe and Garden Centre in Bocking, run by Essex Cares Limited (ECL) was a facility where people with learning disabilities worked for many years.

However, it closed during the pandemic and ECL, which manages it on behalf of Essex Social Services, now says it will not re-open to the public.

Peter Brown, president of Braintree District Mencap, said: “When it closed, it inevitably set alarm bells ringing with anxious parents contacting Braintree District Mencap to share their concerns.

“We have since made strenuous efforts to obtain clarification of the situation but sadly the council has not given any indication as to the future of this facility. 

“Roundwood provided a wonderful service over the years by offering the opportunity for members of the general public to meet and get to know those people with a learning disability who have served them in the cafe and the garden centre. 

“I have been striving to arrange a meeting whereby parents could meet with representatives of the council and ECL to obtain clarification of the issues.

“Eventually, we agreed a date for such a meeting only for ECL to back out at the last minute. 

"Although we expected Essex County Council to attend, they also failed to turn up.

“The matter was highlighted further when James Cleverly met families of the people who attended the centre.

“Mr Cleverly listened very sympathetically to the concerns of the families and offered to approach the council on their behalf.”

In a joint statement, ECL and the county council said: “ECL, under contract from Essex County Council, has run a day service for people with learning disabilities and autism at the Roundwood Day Centre in Braintree since 2009.

“The decision not to reopen the garden centre and café elements of the service at Roundwood Day Centre after the end of the pandemic was made following feedback from people with learning disabilities and autism about what support and services they would like at the day centre.

“When the decision was taken about the closures, ECL met with the customers who attend the services and their families to discuss these plans.

“There were some members of the community who were disappointed about this decision.

“While the café and garden centre elements of the Roundwood Day Centre service have closed, the day service itself has not.

“There is still a day service provision from this site for people with learning disabilities and autism.  It is one of two-day services in the Braintree area run by ECL.  

“The centre continues to provide the opportunity to engage in community-based activities, supporting people to learn new skills, build confidence and achieve their personal goals.”