11.12.12: Parents, carers, supporters & Unison members lobby Ealing Councillors & Protest against plans to close 2 Day centre's for the Learning Disabled
Parents, carers, supporters & trade unionists stood on the steps of Ealing Town Hall on the chilly evening of the 11th December to lobby Ealing Councillor's attending Town Hall meetings (particularly the ruling Labour group) and protest strongly against the deeply unpleasant attack on the day service's of the Ealing learning disability community. Ealing Council has made proposals to close two day centre's (Stirling Road & Learning Curve - both in Acton) that provide vital day opportunities to those with a learning disability. Leaflets outlining the plans were handed to passers by with much support gained that has strengthened public opposition in the locality to this cruel attack on our most vulnerable residents.
'Ealing's Forgotten'
Ealing has said repeatedly that it has provided alternatives in the area as part of a currently running consultation with parents, carers and users of the two centre's. It is plain that in reality this is simply untrue and the council is decieving the public. There are no services that even go near to providing the two invaluable services that the two day centre's have given to the Ealing learning disability community for more than 30 years. It is very likely that users will end up, if the closure's go ahead in May 2013, with very little; if any contact with longstanding friendship groupings and the outside world at large. They are likely to become Ealing's 'forgotten' community , stuck inside their homes with elderly carers struggling to care for them.
Taxpayers Money Wasted
This is a sad indictment of the lack of real creative thought that the council has shown in making the savings it is being forced to make following the coalition government's slashing of it's annual budget. Yet it still feels it is neccessary to spend ludicrous amounts of the taxpayers money employing consultants and interim staff, building car parks, updating computer systems and purchasing desks for it's Perceval House HQ.
Surely the needs of the most vulnerable are more important.
Priorities Ealing Labour ?
Ealing's List of shame
Ealing Council spent £6.3 Million pounds of taxpayers money employing consultants & interim staff April 2011 - April 2012
Ealing Council is spending £5.5 Million on another car park in Southall (with a loan that will cost £500, 000 a year to service)
Ealing Council spent £3.6 Million on a new Council wide computer system & £1
Million on new desks (apparently the old one's were too long!)
If as a taxpayer you feel agrieved at such ludicrous spending please make it known.
LINKS
You
can still express your'e anger at how services are being decimated locally. You
can write to your councillor, MP, the local newspaper or national
media.
Here
are some local links to help you:
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