By Don Mort, local democracy reporter
A shake-up of mental health centres is set to go ahead – despite fears it would leave people with too far to travel for help.
The cash-strapped council is planning to relocate services from three day centres which offer support groups and well-being activities for adults.
The Mental Health Support Hubs are at Stocks Hill in Armley, Lovell Park and Vales Circles in Beeston.
Leeds City councillors agreed to press ahead with the plan, set to save £500,000 this year, at an executive board meeting on Wednesday.
Users of the Stocks Hill centre protested before the meeting against plans to move the service to Calverlands Complex Needs Centre in Horsforth.
Norman Forsyth, 78, said it would take multiple bus journeys for some people to get to the new site from Armley.
Speaking outside Leeds Civic Hall, he said: “We have support workers who help us, and peer support groups.
“It’s going to be two buses for some of us and for some it’s three buses. Do they really think Horsforth is part of the local community?”
In the meeting councillors were told the shake-up was part of plans to save more than £100m this financial year.
The Lovell Park hub would move to Wykebeck Complex Needs Centre and the centre at Vales Circles would join Laurel Bank Complex Needs Centre in Middleton.
Labour’s Salma Arif, executive member for adult social care, said the level of service would not be reduced and people would still have access to help.
She said: “That is why there has been a detailed process of consultation. Through effective planning, these issues can be resolved.”
A report to the meeting said attendance had declined at the hubs and they only opened two or three days a week.
It said: “People accessing services would be supported to transition to alternative sites identified within personalised reviews and in accordance with their individual needs.
“The Mental Health Hubs have not seen investment for many years, with costs associated with maintenance backlog and repairs now increasing.”
The Lovell Park and Vales Circles buildings could be sold off after they are vacated, the council said. A report considered by councillors added: “It is proposed that the Stocks Hill site be retained to support the wider localities review.”
WLD has previously reported on concerns over the proposals from Stocks Hill users, who say it is a local lifeline for them and that travelling to Horsforth by public transport wasn’t practical. A petition against Stocks Hill’s closure has also been submitted to council.
- WLD has been following local and national government cuts in West Leeds via our Cutswatch series of articles.
Sponsored content
Saving £500,000 a year? A better idea to save money would be to get rid of a lot of useless pen pushers. Also cut back on the expensive pension contributions.