Page 7 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • February 2006
Council threatens lifeline transport scheme Gems Angels
with massive cutback Community Support Services

Pledge number 32 of Swindon Council's 50 promises is to increase independence for disabled people: A Company That Cares
which makes their proposal to slash a third of Swindon Dial a Ride's budget difficult to fathom.
The budget proposal made at a !_ "We have absolutely no slack.
cabinet meeting on 14 December There is always more demand for
has led to dismay among users of transport than we can meet. We
Swindon's Dial a Ride service. If . - are the wheels and legs of so many
agreed, the annual grant of £302,000 r o people in Swindon who are liter-
wouldbereducedby£100,000.Con- ally trapped in their homes if they
sultation on the budget proposals cannot use Dial a Ride."
took place in January and a decision The charitable organisation of-'^
will be made at the full council meet- fers help for anyone with mobility
ing on 20 February. problems meaning that they can't Providing:
Brian Freeman, a Dial a Ride use existing public transport. They • Assistance with personal care
user from Highworth, said, "the ' have a fleet of 13 buses and two • Household tasks
cut is so drastic, it's almost unbe- .` cars which are used as taxis. Dial A • Laundry service
lievable. What other council serv- Ride users pay £1.50 per trip, 50 • Shopping service
ices could run with a 30 per cent per cent more than a service bus. • Pension and medication
per
1
drop in income? There has been no _ _ _ ' In 2001, an additional £100,000 collections
consultation or discussion of how "' r___ was awarded to the charity. Op- • Light meal preparation
savings could be made. "" ^`_ erations manager Evelyn Ryder • GP and hospital escort duties
"If the grant is cut by £100,000, said that since then, the number of • Sleep in and night support
r o y
Kayey
with
Ma
The chairwoman Ka For:
there will be a very restricted serv- Franklin at the Dial a Ride twentieth trips has risen by 50 per cent from
ice and it will seriously affect peo- anniversary party held at the DeVere 16,500 to 24,000. • Anyone who needs a little
extra support to get things done
ple's quality of life. People rely on Hotel on 14 January Department of Transport figures • Anyone recovering from illness
Dial a Ride to get to work, go shop- suggest that there should be
• Anyone due to age, physical
ping and socialise. I have Multiple Di a] a Ride's chair, Kay Franklin around 5,000 people in need of
or mental impairment
Sclerosis but I'm able to work as a said, "it was a bit of a bombshell to help with transport in the Swin-
volunteer with the Primary Care be told on the Monday before don area. Dial a Ride has 2,500 on Call us for full details on:
Trust because of the service." Christmas that the council wanted its books so there could be many 01793 524888
Mr Freeman launched a petition us to reduce our costs by £100,000. more people who would benefit 345 Cheney Manor Road
of protest in January and support "We had an emergency meeting from help with transport. Moredon, Swindon
has been encouraging. He plans to on 22 December and our manager For details about signing the Member of the United Kingdom Home Care Association
deliver it to the council before their spent the holidays looking at our petition in support of Dial a Ride, Registered by the Commission for Social Care Inspection
meeting on 20 February. options. call Mr Freeman on 762791.
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