Lawyers acting for the families of adults with learning difficulties have been given leave to appeal against the decision of the High Court earlier this month to dismiss their challenge to Salford City Council's cuts to transport to day centres and respite centres. The appeal will be heard at the Court of Appeal at the Royal Courts of Justice in London in early December.
Last month law firm Irwin Mitchell, representing two of the disabled adults – Michael Robson and Jennifer Barrett – challenged Salford Council through a judicial review of its decision to cut transport.
While High Court Judge Stephen Davies, noted the "extremely damaging outcome" of the Council's decision, which may lead to "an unsuitable or unsafe transport service" he still ruled that the Council could withdraw the Passenger Transport Unit (see previous Salford Star articles – click here and click here).
The day after the High Court decision, Salford City Mayor, Ian Stewart, sent an email to Council staff who instigated the cut - including Sue Lightup, Strategic Director for Community, Health and Social Care - congratulating them on the outcome "in light of the unfair criticism you have endured", adding that they embodied the `Spirit of Salford' and that Salford people should be proud of them... "You are the true servants of the vulnerable".
In the Mayor's email, leaked to the Salford Star, he slurs anyone who supported the parents and carers of disabled adults, stating that he was "most impressed" by the staff's `sensitivity of approach'... "particularly in light of all the Lies, Allegations and Innuendo presented falsely as `Fact', by those who again falsely paraded as supporters of genuinely vulnerable people".
The Mayor omitted to mention any specific examples of "Lies, Allegations and Innuendo presented falsely as `Fact'"...
Parents and carers of severely disabled adults affected by the transport cut hit back at the Mayor yesterday... "I think it's a total disgrace, and I'm totally disgusted that someone could write a letter like that and be so disrespectful towards mums and special needs people, I just can't get over it" said Noreen Bailey who looks after three severely disabled adults, two of whom had their transport stopped months ago.
"If he's attacking our supporters he's attacking us all because they were there genuinely to support us" she added "None of them are liars. All we've done is try and protect our kids to stop this from happening because I know that they've spent money on other things rather than keeping the bus for the most vulnerable going to day centres."
Norma Parkinson Green, who has a disabled daughter added: "These allegations sum up the Mayor of Salford – it's reflective thinking at its best."
Meanwhile, with the appeal against the High Court decision looming, the fight for the right to transport continues, with anyone affected by the cuts still being urged to contact law firm Irwin Mitchell.
Recently the Council sent out letters to parents and carers of disabled adults asking to arrange visits "to support you in organising your alternative transport" with a "reassessment of your needs". Those affected are being urged not to agree to anything and to insist on a copy of their previous assessments, pending the Court of Appeal hearing - and the utter confusion about what is happening with families who have put appeals into the Council about their situation or who have not heard about their reassessments.
Indeed, the Council is now, apparently, considering removing transport not just to day centres and respite centres but between them as well...
"I would have to take my daughter to the day centre, then pick her up from there and take her to the respite centre, and then pick her up from there to bring her home" explained one parent "So where's my respite in that?"
Another parent said that the cost of `alternatively' transporting her son by taxi would be £25 per day, while others told horror stories of taxi drivers who aren't trained to transport disabled adults in wheelchairs... "one driver nearly took my son's head off trying to force him into the cab"... "a driver never put my son's seatbelt on"... "he tried to turn my daughter around in her chair inside the cab and turned her foot as well..."
In the meantime, parents and carers continue to tell the Salford Star about their circumstances and how the cuts are affecting their lives...
"My transport stopped three months ago" says Noreen "My day starts at 4am to get lads ready at 5am, then onto the mobility vehicle at 9:30am. I get the first one on and strap him in, then the next one, then I have to get my other son out, which is horrendous because he's autistic and he does not like his mornings disrupted. My husband, John, drives and then we get them off the vehicle and into the day centre.
"We then go shopping for the meals, get cleaned up, and then it starts again" she adds "We pick them up, get them home, feed them and get them ready for bed. By the time I've done that I'm not fit for anything. I've put three appeals into the Council about the transport but I've not heard anything."
Irrespective of what happens at the Court of Appeal, Noreen and other parents, carers and campaigners believe that there needs to be a community committee set up to support people going through similar issues with the Council, and have organised a meeting for 20th November at Swinton Royal Legion.
"We want to stop people going through what we've gone through" says Noreen "We're open to ideas. Everyone who has a disabled person in their life needs to be fighting for them now.
"I think the Mayor regrets ever meeting us because he thought we would go away and not bother but he doesn't realise that it's our young people that he's talking about, it's their lives that are being ruined" she adds "They don't have a lot in life but what they have, they've got to be left with because once we're not here who is there to fight for them?"
Public Meeting
20th November 7pm
Swinton Royal British Legion
Cheetham Road, Swinton, M27 4UQ
Anyone wanting to speak to Irwin Mitchell law firm can ring 0161 838 2390 and ask for Mathieu Culverhouse.
* Main photo shows Noreen and Norma
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