Council consultation pits two daycare centres for the disabled against each other
Parents have reacted with fury after being forced to choose between two vital daycare centres for disabled children facing the axe.
Council bosses in East Renfrewshire made the announcement in a newsletter saying that either Barrhead or Thornliebank Resource Centre is facing closure.
Some £90,000 needs to be saved but the council have yet to decide which centre to axe.
East Renfrewshire Council has launched a consultation but parents and carers believe this process is pitting each centre against the other, a process with which they feel uncomfortable.
Now parents (pictured below) have created theFriends of Thornliebank & Barrhead Resource Centres Facebook page to encourage others to campaign against the planned closure.
Margaret Murray’s 21year-old daughter Emma goes to the Thornliebank Centre and needs round the clock care.
She visits the centre from 9am until 3pm five times a week and has forged friendships and takes part in various activities including swimming, gardening and music classes.
She said: “I am absolutely disgusted.
“You are talking about the most vulnerable people in our community who are set to lose out here.”
Margaret’s youngest daughter Hannah, 16, also has additional needs and said she feared now for both their futures.
“I am concerned about Emma and the other service users as well as what this might mean for my youngest daughter’s future.
“When she leaves school she will be looking for a centre to attend.
“The council have offered us no suitable alternative for the care of these very vulnerable people."
She added: “I know that when Emma goes to the centre that she is safe and happy.
“This means that I can get a bit of a break and do the things I need to do.”
Sandy McKay’s daughter Jane, 37, and son Andrew, 28, attend both centres.
He said: “Many of us have refused to take part in the consultation because we don’t believe that either centre should close and we don’t want to contribute to this happening.
“The council has not come up with a viable alternative for the care of those who use the centres.”
A spokeswoman for East Renfrewshire Council said: “We will be engaging with service users and their families to help redesign this service and we would encourage everyone to get involved and have their say.
“Our focus will remain on providing more flexible, community based services that will improve the quality of life for people.
“The council have agreed that this saving will not be taken until 2017/2018 and we will work closely with everyone involved during the coming months to ensure everyone is supported through the change.”
Parents have an online petition up and running, which you can sign here.
