Due to budget cuts, Scottish town to close group home for intellectually disabled adults

From The Press and Journal in Aberdeen, Scotland:

A hostel for adults with learning disabilities is to be closed in Aberdeen as part of local authority cost-cutting measures.

Aberdeen City Council social work chiefs Jan. 20 confirmed the Dominies Road residential centre in Rosehill is to shut its doors.

Opposition councillors last night vowed to fight the plans, branding the decision “deplorable” and “disgusting”.

The centre’s 10 residents will have to be moved to alternative accommodation.

Councillors agreed last month to close a centre as part of the local authority’s latest round of spending cuts, which total £23million for the coming year. But it was not known which centre would close until last night.

Council social work director Fred McBride confirmed the move and said the decision was based on the deteriorating state of the building.

He said: “The decision to close this unit was based on an assessment of the overall costs of the continuing provision of this service, which included the building condition and upkeep costs.

“We have been in contact with carers and are also arranging to meet with them for further discussion on Monday.

“The unit will not close until suitable alternative accommodation is found for all 10 residents. Alternatives will include existing council units or commissioned services according to the needs of the service user.

“Staff are working with service users to discuss their choices and options and advocacy services will provide further support.

“All affected staff have been informed and will be receiving advice from the human resources department on re-deployment and voluntary severance processes.”

Choices day centre for disabled adults in Westburn Road was a high-profile victim of council cuts in 2008, while the closure of Mastrick’s Burnside Day Centre for people with learning disabilities was confirmed last year.

Opposition Labour group spokesman Willie Young said: “We think it is disgusting and deplorable that people with learning disabilities are being treated this way.

“The SNP and Liberals have obviously no compassion for vulnerable people and it really is high time they took their responsibilities seriously. We will be opposing these closures.”

The vice-convener of the council’s social work committee, Liberal Democrat councillor Gordon Leslie, would not comment last night.