Campaign for Swansea care home Earlsmoor hits the streets
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep the doors of a Swansea care facility open are taking their fight to the streets.
Union chiefs will be joining forces with people opposed to the closure of Earlsmoor and taking their fight to the city centre tomorrow. So far 2,000 people have put their names to the petition calling to keep the respite service for elderly in Brynmill.
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Campaign for Swansea care home Earlsmoor hits the streets
Doubt has been cast over the future of the facility following a decision by bosses at Swansea Council to shake-up care facilities city-wide.
Plans were first put forward in June after a study suggested the traditional one-size-fits-all approach should make way for a more flexible service.
A decision on the future of Earlsmoor is expected in the new year.
The situation has led Unison to challenge the local authority to debate its plans as to when the facility's doors will be shut for good. But the trade union says the council has failed to respond.
Unison's Glyn Jones said: "We have made a very good start in only a few weeks with our petition and this is the first time we have set up a public stall.
"On the evidence so far we expect huge support. Swansea Council's Christmas present to the city's older people is to cut their respite services.
"It also seems to think this issue will be forgotten over Christmas — we will make sure that it will not."
He added: "If the council was confident of its arguments then it would publicly debate the issue.
"Its current plans also include moving the respite-service from the current seafront location to a much smaller facility in the middle of a housing estate.
"We think the public can judge for themselves who is in the right."
Cabinet member for social services Nick Tregoning added: "The people of Swansea deserve better than simplistic sound bites from a union which seems to think people who need residential respite care should be consigned to an institution where facilities are out of date.
"Unison's Christmas present to the older people of Swansea is a future where they have no say over the services they receive.
"The truth is consultation and proper discussions with all interested groups, individuals and organisations is active and ongoing."
Campaigners will be petitioning between 1pm and 4pm tomorrow at the junction of Union Street and Oxford Street.
elizabeth.perkins@swwmedia.co.uk
Related articles:
Swansea University denies move for care home if axe goes ahead
Clash over way care home plan was dealt with
Carer says life will not be worth living if Earlsmoor closes
5 Comments
by roy.r, swansea
Saturday, December 19 2009, 6:10PM
“Another typical case of where councillors who are pure Amatures, being paid professional salaries having the power to make professional decisions and producing amature results. How long will it take people to realise Cllr Holley and his cabinet of councillor's are just not good enough for Swansea's needs.”
by dai evans, swansea
Saturday, December 19 2009, 11:00AM
“Why or Why do people of Swansea allow these cabinet councillors, many or all of which have just not got the ability or experience in the positions given by Cllr Holley, to undertake decisions they are surely not capable of making it is simply a total sham”
by Jane, Swansea
Saturday, December 19 2009, 11:00AM
“This is the time where we will see if our Council has any clue as to what it is doing. There are going to have to be cuts made somewhere in the overall budget. The cuts have to be made in a logical business like way. Earlsmoor is obviously seen as a soft target. Are our councillors capable of thinking in a joined up business like way? No more stupid schemes that we don't want e.g. City of Culture and Bendy Bus to name but two.”
by Ian, Swansea
Friday, December 18 2009, 10:35PM
“Councillor Nick Tregoning the cabinet member Cabinet member for social services was right when he said that "The people of Swansea deserve better than simplistic sound bites". The only simpleton talking nonsense over the closure of Earlsmoor is the DIMWIT Tregoning himself.
Swansea residents in need of respite deserve better than the HALF-WIT Tregoning making decisions on their respite needs.
Tregoning intends to close Earlsmoor and other children's facilities because his Lib dem cronies are practically bankrupt - they should all be made to resign they are imbeciles the lot of them.”
by Paul Lloyd, Bonymaen Labour Party
Friday, December 18 2009, 7:30PM
“Here we go again. The Swansea Lib Dem/ Independent council selling the family silver to refill its empty coffers. All at the expense of providing a service to the residents of Swansea. Sign the petition, cointact your councillors & tell them how you feel. Tell them you'll remember the Lib Dems & Independents when you vote in the 2012 Swansea Council elections!”