A HEARING into the closure of Hillingdon Rural Activities Centre tea rooms will take place in the Civic Centre this Thursday (20).

A petition signed by more than 3,000 people failed to halt the council closing the tea rooms in West Drayton Road, Hillingdon.

However, residents are hoping the borough will reconsider its training and employment support for adults with autism.

The tea rooms had been operated by Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support as a training café and were open to the public.

The borough says the café was making losses and costing £2,000 a year for each staff member it employed to manage the project. It says this is not value for money. 

Opponents of the decision, including Hillingdon Council’s Labour group, say that, with so few employment and training opportunities for those affected by autism, every effort to support the work should be encouraged.

The hearing is in Room 5 of the Civic Centre in Uxbridge. Please arrive by 4.45 for a 5pm start.