Shropshire Star

Disabled 'a priority' in Shropshire services rethink

Supporting disabled people in their own homes will be a top priority for Shropshire Council, it has been announced.

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The council said its emphasis going forward will be to identify where land or buildings can taken up by disabled people under a full-time tenancy agreement, instead of living with relatives.

The future of learning disability services across south east Shropshire will be discussed during a meeting in Bridgnorth next week.

Proposals include closing the Innage Lane building in Bridgnorth as a day service, with the possibility of moving it to a nearby youth centre.

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for adult services – transformation and safeguarding, said: "Many people with a learning disability live with older carers, and securing suitable additional properties for people to move on to in the future will be of the upmost importance.

"One proposal the council is putting forward is that the building currently used for day services at Innage Lane could be used for supported living.

"This would mean that the Innage Lane building would close as a day service.

"However, the day service would be provided from another location, which could be the nearby youth centre building, which would be in addition to the existing evening use.

"Some of the current users of the service at Innage Lane also use the service provided by Oak Farm in Ditton Priors."

The council will also consider which services for disabled people will be provided as it changes from being a provider to a commissioner as part of wide-ranging plans to save the authority £40 million by the end of the year.

Mr Chapman said: "The council has every intention of continuing to provide excellent day opportunities in Bridgnorth.

"However, the services we deliver must be sustainable. A balance must also be found with providing these and creating homes for people who need them.

"We have some ideas about how we can do this but we are really keen to hear from those who use the services, as well as their carers, to ensure a bright and successful future."

A meeting for users and carers will take place on June 4, from 10.30am to noon, in the youth centre in Innage Lane, Bridgnorth.

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