Council's closure plan backed by charity

THE manager of a charity that works with adults with learning difficulties has backed council plans to close three support centres.

Leeds Council has drawn up plans to close centres in Horsforth, West Ardsley and Wetherby and replace them with smaller-scale services in existing community buildings.

Councillors in Wetherby are opposing the closure of Wetherby Day Centre.

But Martin Corey, of independent Leeds-based charity People in Action, supports the move away from large centres.

He said: “Although People in Action understands the anxiety caused by the proposed restructuring of day services for people with learning disabilities, we strongly support the move away from large centres and the introduction of more personalised services which support people to live ordinary lives.

“The truth is that, in spite of the good work done by staff, such centres act against the best interests of their customers by restricting their ability to make their own decisions and reinforcing the idea that they need to be kept apart from wider society.

“Times have moved on since these centres were first introduced and people with learning disabilities, like other marginalised groups before them, are increasingly moving out into the world, where they are valued for what they can do, rather than being defined by what they can't.

“With the right support, disabled people are now making valuable contributions in paid and voluntary employment, living independently and making their own choices about what they want to do, who they want to see and where they want to go.

“Leeds has been slower than most local authorities to embrace these changes.

“Whilst great care must be taken to ensure that people continue to be given the support they need, the closure of the large centres will undoubtedly lead to people living richer, more varied and more fulfilling lives and, as such, is something to be welcomed more than feared.”