Merton Council leader has rant at the disabled
This article from Diana Pilkington was in last weeks edition of Wimbledon Guardian and included the views of the Tory leader of Merton Council David Williams. Judging by the comments you can assume that the All Saints' Centre in Wimbledon is destined for the chop in the budget, it's future does not look optimistic. Coupled with closure of Bond Road in the last budget round along with the massively increased social services charges the attack against vulnerable people continues.
The comment "I don't see we should allow a special interest group to hold the rest of the council taxpayers to ransom" is particularly worrying, there is no evidence of this at all and does this apply to every single group who campaigns against cuts in the Council?
Disabled group hits back after leader’s ‘rant’
By Diana Pilkington
Comment
Disability rights campaigners and users of a day centre in Wimbledon have expressed outrage at the council leader's "appalling" attitude to the service.
In light of fears that the All Saints' Centre could face the chop as the council reviews its adult social services, Councillor David Williams said: "We have a very difficult budget round coming up and we will look at all the options.
It's very easy for those who receive services to say we should have everything we want.
"We have to keep things in balance. Some of these services are provided at an enormous cost."
He added: "Who's to say we can't provide an equally good service elsewhere? I don't see we should allow a special interest group to hold the rest of the council taxpayers to ransom."
“These services often provide the means of keeping disabled people alive, and maintain their dignity and respect. Disabled people are taxpayers like everyone else, so why should they not have access to services which promote their independence?”
His remarks have angered users of All Saints', many of whom depend on the facility to allow them to leave the house and to give their carers a break.
Roland Dawson, 64, has visited the centre regularly since suffering two heart attacks and a stroke.
He said: "I am amazed and disappointed that he attacked disabled people in this way. All we are guilty of is trying to save the club that we need."
Simone Aspis, spokeswoman for the United Kingdon's Disabled People's Council, said: "This is appalling. Would the leader have had similar sentiments for parents needing educational services for their school aged children?
"What he has failed to recognise is that too often disabled people do not have the choice other than to rely on essential social care services provided by the local authority.
"These services often provide the means of keeping disabled people alive, and maintain their dignity and respect. Disabled people are taxpayers like everyone else, so why should they not have access to services which promote their independence?"
The All Saints' Road centre is used by about 75 people aged 16 to 65 with a physical disability.
It offers a range of services and activities, including physiotherapy, computer classes and cross-stitch, as well as organising trips and other social events.
More than 200 names have been collected in an online petition to save it
The comment "I don't see we should allow a special interest group to hold the rest of the council taxpayers to ransom" is particularly worrying, there is no evidence of this at all and does this apply to every single group who campaigns against cuts in the Council?
Disabled group hits back after leader’s ‘rant’
By Diana Pilkington
Comment
Disability rights campaigners and users of a day centre in Wimbledon have expressed outrage at the council leader's "appalling" attitude to the service.
In light of fears that the All Saints' Centre could face the chop as the council reviews its adult social services, Councillor David Williams said: "We have a very difficult budget round coming up and we will look at all the options.
It's very easy for those who receive services to say we should have everything we want.
"We have to keep things in balance. Some of these services are provided at an enormous cost."
He added: "Who's to say we can't provide an equally good service elsewhere? I don't see we should allow a special interest group to hold the rest of the council taxpayers to ransom."
“These services often provide the means of keeping disabled people alive, and maintain their dignity and respect. Disabled people are taxpayers like everyone else, so why should they not have access to services which promote their independence?”
His remarks have angered users of All Saints', many of whom depend on the facility to allow them to leave the house and to give their carers a break.
Roland Dawson, 64, has visited the centre regularly since suffering two heart attacks and a stroke.
He said: "I am amazed and disappointed that he attacked disabled people in this way. All we are guilty of is trying to save the club that we need."
Simone Aspis, spokeswoman for the United Kingdon's Disabled People's Council, said: "This is appalling. Would the leader have had similar sentiments for parents needing educational services for their school aged children?
"What he has failed to recognise is that too often disabled people do not have the choice other than to rely on essential social care services provided by the local authority.
"These services often provide the means of keeping disabled people alive, and maintain their dignity and respect. Disabled people are taxpayers like everyone else, so why should they not have access to services which promote their independence?"
The All Saints' Road centre is used by about 75 people aged 16 to 65 with a physical disability.
It offers a range of services and activities, including physiotherapy, computer classes and cross-stitch, as well as organising trips and other social events.
More than 200 names have been collected in an online petition to save it
posted by Martin Whelton at 2:28 pm
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