Just over three years ago, Salford City Council was at the centre of a community and trade union storm, as it shifted children with complex needs and disabilities out of The Grange, which was then a short term respite centre. It stated that the children "were not value for money".*
At the time, there were protests inside and outside the Civic Centre, and a nasty press release from the then Salford City Mayor, Ian Stewart, accusing campaigners of being a "rent-a-crowd" who "do not set a good example for our young people".
The parents of the children who the cut affected were totally insulted and continued their protests with placards reading `Concerned parents, not rent a crowd' (see previous Salford Star article – click here).
As it turns out the parents were right to be concerned. While their children were shunted into the Granville adult care centre for short term respite, the Council converted The Grange into a medium to long term care service for children.
"This would reduce the need to place children outside of the city, improve their life experiences and will save on the cost of more expensive out of borough residential placements" a Council report at the time stated.
However, staff, parents and children were told over the last two days, without any warning, that The Grange is now going to shut completely in the latest round of cuts, as new City Mayor, Paul Dennett looks set to continue where Stewart left off.
"What's going to happen to the children already using it?" asks Margaret Tunnacliffe, whose children were kicked out of The Grange three years ago, and was instrumental in forming the Save The Grange campaign "I thought the whole idea to change the use of the building was to save money so they could either bring back the children outside of Salford or stop other children from moving out of Salford to be closer to their parents.
"Promises, promises and promises have constantly been broken, time and time again forgetting about the heartbreak they are causing to the children, parents and staff alike" she adds "They won't be happy until they close everything. I wonder how long Granville will last now? It's a complete joke and it comes down to money and not the most vulnerable."
The Salford Star understands that one young girl has lived at The Grange for three years and will now have to move. Meanwhile other children, both present and future, will have lost the service and experienced, caring staff forever.
*For background see previous Salford Star articles on The Grange - click here and click here
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