Special needs topic upsets meeting-goer

Protest by Link Centre users about its possible closure.

A MEMBER of the public broke down in tears when she realised that council proposals to close a hub for services for people with disabilities and additional needs was not being discussed last night.

Some people who use the Link Centre for Independent Living in Union Street, Oldham, attended the council meeting after mistakenly believing the issue would be on the agenda.

Independent councillor Warren Bates ­- who told the Chronicle that he did not tell them to attend ­- then tried to raise the matter during a debate on another topic. But he was prevented from doing so because it was not on the agenda.

One person then broke down in tears as she left the council chamber. But Cllr Susan Dearden, chairman of Oldham health and wellbeing board, spoke to the group at length outside along with Mark Warren, director of adult social care.

Cllr Dearden told the Chronicle that they had explained the situation to the group and would write to them to invite them to a consultation meeting.