Don’t ignore those who need us most
Councillor wants answers on disability hubs
Families rallying against closures to vital disability centres have been met with a “wall of silence”, a councillor claimed.
Derek Bibby says they are being ignored as they demand for answers over the future of services.
He met with 30 people using Capability Scotland’s stricken Paisley and Johnstone sites, which could close after the charity admitted it could no longer fund them.
Renfrewshire Council claims it will continue to support those affected, but will not elaborate on how this will happen.
Councillor Bibby hit out after the local authority hinted new Scottish Government legislation would allow families to pay for care elsewhere.
He said: “Renfrewshire’s most vulnerable citizens cannot be allowed to worry themselves sick over persisting uncertainty.
“Councillors constantly talk about listening to and giving people choice.
“The choice of the people who attend these centres is to continue to do so and that should be respected.”
Campaigners have contacted each of Renfrewshire’s 43 councillors to call for help to fund support — including a man who has used the centres for 52 years.
They have confirmed plans to attend members’ surgeries to ask them to back their calls.
The Whitehaugh and West Lane Gardens centres offer support to adults and young people with learning difficulties and are attended by dozens of families.
Around 20 workers have also been left fearing for their jobs and those they care for.
Councillor Bibby says a letter has been written to local authority leader Iain Nicolson to appeal for answers.
But he insists no clear plan has been laid out.
Local authority bosses claim they will “continue to meet the needs” of service users.
Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, chair of the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board, says providing self-directed support will give people “more choice and control than ever” over where to access social care. CALL FOR MORE 0903 658 2009 SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 23 CALL FOR MORE 0903 658 2010 OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22 CALL FOR MORE 0903 658 2011 NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21
The choice of the people who attend these centres is to continue to do so Derek Bibby