IN A direct appeal to the First Minister, a council-run learning disability centre in Argyll is fighting back against plans to close it, claiming it would be ‘completely abhorrent and irresponsible’ for its managers to shut the ‘highest scoring’ service ‘without consultation’, writes Sandy Neil.
Staff at Lochgilphead Resource Centre, as employees of Argyll and Bute Council, couldn’t form a protest group, but still joined 40 parents, carers and volunteers at an emergency meeting to oppose closure plans by Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).
HSCP officials proposed more than 400 job cuts and closing council-run care homes, day care and disability centres to save £13 million to balance this year’s budget.