msps told decision to cut funding for aberdeen service had robbed people of their freedom
Day centre closure decision left disabled users ‘suicidal’
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MSPs were told yesterday that a “brutal” decision to close down a day centre in Aberdeen had left disabled users feeling depressed and suicidal.
Wheelchair user Kevin McCahery, from Choices Day Centre, said the decision to cut funding without consulting the people involved had effectively robbed them of their freedom.
The 45-year-old claimed the city council had broken disability equality laws because it had a statutory duty to consult vulnerable groups before making changes.
Mr McCahery, who failed to secure an interim interdict to block the closure of the Westburn Road centre last month, told Holyrood’s public petitions committee that the human rights of the 52 people who used the service had been trodden on and the move had “dragged us back to the 20th century”.
Asked to reveal the human impact of the council’s decision, Mr McCahery said: “There has been anger, frustration, depression and suicidal tendencies.
“Choices was their life, their livelihood, their freedom. It got them away from the four walls (of their homes) every day.
“I know that because I have been there and sat at home for four years with no help, no friends, nobody turning up, and the next thing I was ready to commit suicide myself.
“With the help of my wife and my doctor, I got in touch with Choices. And what a difference that service made to me. Look at me, trying to prove the point to you, and if I did not think it would be worth it, I would not be here.”
Mr McCahery told MSPs that legislation on equality for disabled people applied throughout Britain and warned that, if Aberdeen City Council could break them, other cities and towns could follow suit.
The campaigner was speaking to a petition lodged by Kevin Hutchens, of Aberdeen Trades Union Council which calls on MSPs to urge the Scottish Government to review whether it is making “adequate and sufficient” funding available to councils to provide public and voluntary sector services.
Mr Hutchens, from Stonehaven, said he wanted MSPs to “do all in their power” to boost funding for Scotland’s third-largest city.
He also asked the committee to lobby ministers to change accounting rules so the authority could transfer funds from its capital accounts to the revenue account to stave off recent budget cuts, which he claims were “rushed through”.
SNP MSPs on the committee stressed it was the council’s responsibility to deal with the financial situation, which had built up over a number of years.
Livingston MSP Angela Constance warned: “If there is an exception made for Aberdeen, other councils will feel they too should be getting an increasing slice of the cake.”
The committee agreed to contact the council about the issues raised.
