Fresh hope for families in fight to save day centres

Scottish Health Minister Alex Neil has agreed to fund a study into the care of people with learning disabilities in Glasgow in the hope of improving services - but only if the city council puts the brakes on its closure plans.

The development came during a meeting between Mr Neil and the carers.

They are now calling on the council to get on board by delay the closure plans by two-years.

The campaigners have been fighting against moves to shut three centres, in Summerston; Berryknowes, in Cardonald, and Hinshaw Street, in Maryhill, for a year.

Mr Neil said: "While decisions on day centre closures and the future redesign of services are a matter for individual authorities, I have met and listened to the individuals affected by those decisions. I intend to write to Glasgow City Council offering to contribute to funding a feasibility study on options if the council agree to keep the centres open beyond March."

Tommy Gorman, whose 21-year-old daughter Patsy attended the Summerston day centre, said: "This is a very positive development.

"If the council agree to the two-year moratorium, Alex Neil will fund a professional feasibility study so that we can develop the services that meet the needs of people with learning disabilities.

"But in the meantime the centres would stay open."

The council previously turned down requests to halt the closures.

It wants to shut the centres and give the 520 affected families personal budgets which will allow them to fund services suited to their children's needs.

But campaigners say there has been no consultation with users.

Mr Gorman added: "I hope that the council get on board with this."

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said he could not comment on the plan and said they had yet to hear from the health minister.

He added: "We are in dialogue with the carers and are meeting with them next week to discuss various issues, including the formation of a carers' trust."

linzi.watson@ eveningtimes.co.uk