"First and foremost the Council has a duty of care to those children and families currently being accommodated, rather than treating them as collateral damage..."
Yesterday, Salford Labour Party councillors and City Mayor, Paul Dennett, could be seen cheering on Salford Precinct, as Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, slammed uncaring Tories and promised that his party was "serious about social justice" (see here)...
Today, Salford City UNISON has accused those same councillors and the Mayor of using disabled children as "collateral damage" in its determination to close The Grange, despite opposition from families and supporters, including Salford Red Devils players, who are campaigning to keep the facility open.
The Grange is Salford's only residential care home for disabled children, and the Council wants to close it to save £300,000, despite spending £2million to subsidise empty offices in the city owned by the Legal and General (see here); despite finding £300,000 extra funding for street cleaning (see here); and despite agreeing to spend £19million on the RHS Garden in Worsley (see here).
Back in February, UNISON presented alternative proposals to the Council which would keep The Grange open, and at an impromptu meeting with parents and the union outside the Civic Centre, councillors and the Mayor agreed to look again at the cut (see here).
However, nothing has been heard since, and the Council has now moved to a thirty day consultation to shut the facility, which would mean children being placed in units outside of Salford.
"Our members at The Grange are extremely disappointed that the Council has proceeded to consult over the closure of the only residential unit for disabled children in Salford" says Salford City UNISON's Ameen Hadi.
"We firmly believe that the level of care offered cannot be matched by the private sector and will place a further burden on families who are trying to have regular contact with their children" he explains "Despite promises that the Council would discuss alternatives to closure they have failed to do so."
The Council argues that The Grange is only forty per cent full and that there is no demand for the facility – but UNISON claims that children in need are actually being turned away.
"Even more shocking it seems that they have been operating on a policy since December that if a disabled young person required accommodating they would not place them at The Grange because of their desire to close the unit!" Ameen Hadi insists.
"First and foremost the Council has a duty of care to those children and families currently being accommodated, rather than treating them as collateral damage" he adds "...We suggest the Council does the decent thing, listens to the parents and withdraws their plans."
Salford City UNISON is backing a public meeting taking place on 27th May to support the Save The Grange campaign, which has now amassed almost 3,000 signatures opposing the cut.
To sign the online petition – click here
For further details contact savethegrangeagain@gmail.com
Save The Grange Again
Public Meeting
Saturday 27th May 10:30am
Swinton Moorside Cricket Club
1 Deansway
Swinton M27 0WH
For a full background on the Save The Grange campaign see previous Salford Star articles – click here and click here
* Salford Council does not respond to Salford Star requests for comments or quotes.
Main photo shows Jeremy Corbyn and Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey on Salford Precinct flanked by Labour Party councillors and supporters
(1).JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
(2).JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
