10th December 2009
“This is a matter of life and death.”
Those were the words of one member of the public who spoke out at the heated Cabinet meeting last night were plans to plug Swindon Council’s £12m budget blackhole by slashing funding to some local services were discussed.
Among the catalogue of cost-cutting proposals are plans to reduce funding for Dial A Ride, the voluntary transport service for disabled and elderly people who struggle to travel, by £50,000.
Other cuts include turning off some street lights and cuts to youth centre funding.
Speaking at the meeting Mary Ratcliffe, a member of Action Against Elder Abuse spoke of her concerns.
She said: “I am deeply disturbed by two very serious issues that directly affect the lives of the most vulnerable people in our society.
“It is sheer hypocrisy to pay lip service to caring for the elderly to enable us to stay in the sanctity of our precious homes, whilst placing the Dial A Ride, and the Shop Mobility parking space under threat.
“Both facilities are absolutely crucial to the daily lives of so many amongst us.
“Alleviate the stress that you are causing and be there for us.”
Councillors took questions from a number of worried people who attended the meeting and were quick to point out that no cuts would be made to the Shop Mobility service.
Abridged
SOURCE: The Swindon Advertiser, UK
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