COUNCILLOR Sue Reid has stated that the reasons for the proposed closure of Shadsworth House home for the elderly in Blackburn were vandalism and the occupancy levels. The report submitted to the council on November 18 also cited these.

If this is the case, why, within one hour of the report being submitted, did Coun Reid admit there was no vandalism at Shadsworth House.

If occupancy levels are the issue, then why was Blakewater Lodge not included in the closure proposals? The report puts the Shadsworth House occupancy level at 78 per cent. This was corrected by Coun Reid on November 18 to 86 per.

The occupancy level at Blakewater Lodge was 53 per cent. This means the home with the highest occupancy level was singled out for closure, while that with the lowest should remain open.

Councillor Reid made it known on December 22 at a meeting with our action group that the Laneside old folk's home was not up for discussion as that was 'gone.' Yet, she told local radio on January 18 that a final decision had not been made. If that was true, why was Laneside not up for discussion?

On January 21, a ward councillor, when asked to help fight the closure, remarked that he could not be expected to change the minds of 62 other councillors. Does that mean that a decision has already been made?

The report also stated that the consultation on these proposals should be the widest possible. But Social Services couldn't defend their own report and feared it wouldn't stand up to public scrutiny.

With all this in mind, it would be irresponsible for us to support a report that we felt had not been produced within the council's own guidelines - which is to provide services that are fair, equal and unbiased. We believe that inaccurate and misleading statements are being used to bring about the closure of Shadsworth House.

We also feel it would be irresponsible for councillors to support the closure without understanding the report and its shortcomings. But, if, as it seems, they wish to carry on down the path of complacency, ignorance and disregard, then they will support this report.

Should any councillors vote 'Yes' to this report, then consultation with Blackburn with Darwen Council is nothing more than a sham and issues like Shadsworth and now the proposed closure of Crosshill Special School, will go ahead with a total disregard for anybody else's views or fears.

J ALCOCK (Secretary, Shadsworth Action Group), Dunoon Drive, Shadsworth, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.