Blog: Budget cuts/savings are beginning to bite in Shropshire

Blog: Life seems to be going on as normal in Shropshire despite the massive savings (or do we say cuts?) Shirehall bosses plan to make, writes Education and Municipal Correspondent Dave Morris.

For example, from my office window I can see cars queuing to get on to a supermarket car park and early today the roads were heavy with traffic, lorries transporting goods and countless cars speeding people to work.

Sauntering along the town pavements were large numbers of secondary school pupils, chatting and laughing with, it would appear, hardly a care in the world.

Nothing seems different.

But a council can't find savings of nearly £60 million over three years without something changing and someone being hurt.

This hit home at a meeting of the Shropshire Council cabinet which was considering a list of budget ideas of next year.

About £200,000 could be saved by closing the Grange day centre in Shrewsbury.

It provides support and services to disabled people but it is said that money could be saved by "reproviding" services at "better and alternative" venues.

But for many the Grange is seen as "home" where they have friends, feel loved and secure, and enjoy a range of activities.

The proposed changes - though no final decision has been taken and full consultation is promised - is causing the centre users a great deal of distress.

Council leaders say that amid all the proposed cost-cutting measures, their aim will be to safeguard the most vulnerable.

I hope they do so,because those folk at the Grange, those with learning disabilities, the elderly struggling to retain their dignity and independence, find it hard to make their voice heard.

They can't mobilise thousands of supporters on to the streets of the county town as the education lobby can whenever there is a threat to schools.

But I also know that if £200,000 savings can't be found at the Grange, then council bosses will be looking to find the money elsewhere.

And that is likely to mean pain for someone else.