Council in bid to save cut-hit community hub

Howard Sykes

A COUNCILLOR is asking his leaders to explore ways to save a popular community centre which could be closed as a result of budget cuts.

In a letter to Councillor Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Leader of the Council and Councillor Jenny Harrison, Cabinet Member of Social Services, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE asked them to work with him to find ways to save the Link Centre on Union Street.

Councillor Sykes was prompted to write to the leaders following a consultation which is currently running on whether to close the centre as Oldham Council tries to make budget savings of £20 million.

He asked the councillors to explore the possibility of replicating the Glasgow Link Centre model which would see the Link Centre developed into an independent living hub for people with disabilities.

While admitting that the council is facing challenges to make cuts to the budget, Councillor Sykes warned that demand for services like Oldham Links will rise as people are living longer.

Councillor Sykes said: "I was saddened to read that as part of the current round of public consultation over proposed budget cuts, that consideration is being given to the closure of the Link Centre.

"I recognise that in the current financial climate real savings have to be made, but the Link Centre delivers unique person-centred services to a particularly deserving client group and these services may be impossible to replicate and so may be lost forever.

He said: "With people living longer more of us will live with disabilities and long-term health conditions will increase, more of us will also become carers to loved ones, so it is inconceivable that the demand for these services will not rise.

He added: "I recall private conversations with the late Councillor Philip Harrison, who impressed upon me his vision that the Link Centre should become a centre of disabled people for disabled people.

"This is empowering and would represent our vision that a Co-operative Council should be an enabler to help our residents help themselves."

He said: "Yes, budget cuts are a huge threat to services but they also present us with opportunities to do things differently.

"The Glasgow model of service delivery is one that I think we should explore for Oldham on a cross-party basis with our officers and with the groups and individuals who use the Link Centre, and those who in the future may do."

• More on the Link centre consultation.