Fight to save Dundee adult learning centre attracts 1000 supporters

Around 1000 people have signed an online petition protesting the planned closure of the Kemback Street Adult Learning Centre.

Dundee City Council has said the number of people with learning disabilities using the centre has dropped and social work staff believe it would be better to find other ways to support those who remain.

A campaign by the families of service users is under way to try to get the council to reverse its decision.

The petition states: ”Some of the most vulnerable people in our society will be massively affected by this closure. We understand that the council has to save money, but to do so at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society is, at the least, reprehensible.”

Many of the people who have signed up have also left comments on the petiton site.

Gail Gowans wrote: ”Yet again the most vulnerable in our society, who have no choice, are punished.”

Rose Cuthill said the council should be ”very ashamed” of what it is trying to do, while Bill Mudie said: ”The vulnerable hit again to save a pound.”

Also aggrieved at the decision was Eddie Lynch, who wrote: ”Yet again it is the people who have no real voice who are singled out when the powers-that-be are looking to save a few quid.

”This is a shocking decision for a council to make — people’s welfare and well-being must come before cost cutting.”

Councillor Laurie Bidwell, Labour member for the Ferry ward, has also backed the anti-closure campaign.

He said: ”A number of constituents have contacted me expressing concerns about the planned closure of the centre.”

He continued: “Some of the current service users have been going to the centre on several days a week for more than 20 years.

”Understandably, the relatives and carers of the service users are very concerned that the replacement of the centre and its services with individualised care packages will be an inferior and cut-price experience.

”They also express disappointment about the way the closure decision was taken and how the consultation which preceded the decision was not very inclusive of service users and their carers/relatives.”

A city council spokesman said last week that the social work department would be speaking to service users and their families and carers to determine the most appropriate means of support for each person, adding that those who require day care would be able to use other centres once Kemback Street closed.

In March a report by social work director Alan Baird said: ”The usage of this resource has decreased in recent years due to the increase in available opportunities for more personalised supports and an increase in further education and employment opportunities.

”It is anticipated that for most of the people who attend Kemback Street alternative models of support would be more appropriate and in keeping with the views of adults with a learning disability themselves.”

He added: ”Given national and local policy regarding the care and support of adults with a learning disability and their carers and increasing financial pressure, the effective prioritisation of public service resources is crucial.”