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Disabled group blasts changes

Stuart Pike
21/12/2005

A NEW Mills group which champions the needs of the disabled have condemned the withdrawal of an emergency medical loans service that has served the elderly and infirm for 32 years.

The service, which loaned out wheelchairs, commodes and walking sticks from the town hall, was cut by New Mills town council in October on health and safety grounds, after a wheelchair was damaged while on loan leading to concerns over a lack of insurance cover.

The nearest medical loans for New Mills residents will now have to come from Marple's much larger Red Cross service - which is only open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

A report by the council's welfare and administration committee concluded: "The stringent health and safety requirements of this day and age make it unrealistic for the town council to continue providing this service.

"The availability of the Red Cross service close by means people who require the service can obtain it, perhaps with some additional inconvenience, but on the other hand with assurance about the quality and cleanliness of the equipment and advice on its suitability for the proposed user."

But New Mills and District Access Group, have investigated alternative options and want the council to reconsider.

Spokesman Alan Jackson said: "It's alright saying you can go to Marple, but you don't send people to a shop in Whaley Bridge or Hazel Grove because they've got fabulous stuff there, and then close the local Co-op down.

"If it is beyond the duties of any town hall member of staff, a volunteer would be found to carry out checking and, particularly, cleaning with a disinfectant solution. The processes to be put in place, similar to those in place at the Red Cross, are not complex and would satisfy the requirements of the council's insurers."