Let everyone vote on future of centres
Families make plea over under-threat disability services
Disability centres could be saved if all councillors are given a chance to vote on retaining them, campaigners say.
Activists have called for a special meeting of Renfrewshire Council and urged for a ballot to be held on whether to stumpup funding to save the two Capability Scotland centres.
They say all elected members should be given the choice on whether to save stricken branches in Paisley and Johnstone.
Both sites are under threat after the charity revealed it could no longer afford to keep them running.
Carer Margaret Anne McAndrew insist there will be a huge impact on families if money cannot be found.
She explained: “It is usually said that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.
“But we, the service users and carers, know exactly what an excellent service we have at West Lane Gardens and at Whitehaugh.
“We also know the devastation which will be caused if we lose them.”
Families working to keep the services running have contacted each of the region’s 43 councillors to ask them to back their calls.
These include one man who has been attending for support for more than 52 years.
Iain McMillan, who was social work chief for the district for five years, is among those urging for a full vote on whether to support the cause.
He said: “Subjects like this should involve all councillors and they must be accountable for any decisions they make.
“It will be interesting to hear the views of newly- elected councillors and, in particular, those of the members whose wards these facilities are based in.
“These services are vital to the people who use them and this proposal is of great concern to them and their families .
“Anything less than these centres being kept open will show that the wellbeing of vulnerable people in our community is not the priority of the SNP minority administration.”
The 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 Derek Bibby, depute Labour leader, says members have been “bombarded” with emails from angry locals demanding the services are saved.
He said: “People that attend the centres, who are the most vulnerable of our citizens, were told of the closures last month.
“Over the last four weeks – which must have seen like an eternity to them – they have sought answers and reassurance from the council.
“They simply want their wishes to attend these centres to receive the current service respected.”
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson says a decision is still to be made, but service users would be free to choose their own care under Holyrood legislation.
He said: “I am acutely aware that friendships and bonds can and do occur in all places where people meet and socialise.
“A lot of work has been ongoing to ensure that bonds, friendships and connections that have developed will remain a key part of the process.
“Service users should be able to maintain those links and be able to access local services as easily as possible.
“We support the principle of choice and recognise that when change does occur, it has to be managed sensitively.
“In this particular case, service users, their families and carers, all have to be independently consulted as to their options and choice.
“This takes time in order to identify individual needs and provide the right level of support.
“It is also clear in my mind that everyone has a role to play to minimise uncertainty and reduce any anxiety during this period of change.”