The families of residents at an Aberdeen home for adults with learning disabilities have vowed to fight the local authority’s “disgraceful” decision to close the centre.
Aberdeen City Council came under fire last night from the families of the 10 residents at the Dominies Road hostel in Rosehill, which is to be axed as part of cost-cutting measures.
It came after a meeting between social work officials and the residents’ family members and guardians yesterday afternoon.
Ken Scott, stepfather of 36-year-old Barry Forbes, who stays at the centre, spoke out on behalf of the families after the meeting.
“It was unsatisfactory from our point of view,” said the 60-year-old from Fetternear, near Kemnay.
“The first we knew about it was the article in the P&J on Thursday, which we feel was completely out of order by the council. They have made a decision without any consultation with the guardians and families.
“We don’t accept the decision and we intend to fight it.
“We think they have shown a huge amount of disrespect and no consideration for the people involved.
“They are going to feel very scared and very upset about moving and being separated from each other.”
Wilma Gill, 61, said her 49-year-old sister Lorraine suffered from learning disabilities and mental illness, made worse by the deaths of their mother Elizabeth in 2000 and brother Robert in 2005.
Her sister was moved into the Dominies Road hostel shortly after their mother’s death, where she slowly improved after attending several other council-run centres in the preceding years.
Now she faces more upheaval after last month’s decision to close the facility, taken by councillors as part of the authority’s latest round of spending cuts, which total £23million for the coming year.
Ms Gill, of Corthan Drive in Kincorth, said: “Her mental state will definitely be affected by this, which I don’t think is fair.
“It took about two years for her to settle. She would say ‘is Dominies my home for good now’ and I would say ‘yes’.
“I think it’s just disgraceful. It all comes down to money.”
Aberdeen City Council social work director Fred McBride has said the decision was taken after an assessment of cost and the state of the building.
He added that the building would not close until alternative accommodation had been found for the residents, but the Press and Journal understands it has been earmarked for closure before the end of the financial year, on March 31.