Published: June 30, 2011
Burnham-On-Sea mental health therapy centre to close this summer

Health bosses have confirmed this week that a mental health therapy centre in Burnham-On-Sea will close this summer.

Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported here earlier this year on the concerns of users of Belmont House in Technical Street.

The NHS insisted at the time that Belmont House would not be closed until another base for its services had been established.

However, a letter sent to Belmont House users by Colin Nash, the centre’s service manager, states that the property will no longer be used for services in the Burnham area from August or September, but adds that appointments will still be available in the Burnham area.

The letter says: "We will be seeing people in a range of other NHS buildings in the Burnham and Highbridge area which are more suitable. We will also be able to offer appointments in Bridgwater if this would be more convenient."

The letter says that Belmont House is not suitable for people with disabilities because it lacks modern facilities such as a lift.

An NHS Somerset spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: "There is no question of the existing services at Belmont House being stopped or the building being closed before patient and carers' views have been properly considered and alternative premises indentified and services fully established."