Council urged to reverse disabled centre cuts

Parents and staff are urging the city council to reinstate beds at a respite centre for disabled children following cuts which went ahead in autumn.

The Bush Residential Centre in Hengrove had its number of beds cut from 10 to five, despite a long campaign from service users.

But now the campaign is set to be considered by councillors after a petition attracted more than 3,500 names, forcing a debate to be held this Tuesday.

The debate falls less than two weeks after a special needs school on the Downs said it was being forced to close after becoming “economically nonviable”. A separate petition demanding Government intervention, launched just two days ago, has already gained more than 4,000 signatures.

“We are asking for the cuts to be reversed,” Rita Lynch, whose son goes to the Bush once a week, told Bristol24/7. “Especially in the light of the closure of St Christopher’s, it’s the wrong decision. Things can get reversed, we know that, and that’s what we are hoping for. Disabled services for children are being eroded and diminishing all the time and soon there will be nowhere to go.”

Ornella Saibene, whose godson goes to the centre, added: “We are asking for them to reinstate the beds because there isn’t an alternative. We have got five beds left, but we want the others reinstated.”

A statement on the petition, which will be debated at a meeting of full council on Tuesday evening, says: “These beds are currently used by some of the most vulnerable disabled children and pressured families in our city.

“The Bush Residential Respite Centre for Disabled Children is a place where the children are safe, in the care of well-trained staff that gives parents peace of mind.

“In many cases the children and parents have long established relationships with the staff, they can also have social interaction with other children.”

It adds: “Fostering, short breaks, befriending, direct payments, are no match to the resources and care at the Bush.”

Mayor George Ferguson decided to make the cuts to beds in October, 2014, saving £325,000 annually. The council said the money would be diverted to offer different respite services such as short breaks, providing more flexibility to care services.

“We do appreciate that short break services are a very important way of providing support to families,” a council spokesperson said.

“With the needs of our service users in mind, the decision was made to close the five residential beds, releasing money to provide that greater range of short break opportunities.

“Crucially, those children whose needs continue to be best met by an overnight stay in a residential unit (like the Bush) will still be able to have one.”

Although the petition will be debated by councillors, the mayor will have the final say.

A separate petition calling for the Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, to step in and save St Christopher’s school on the Downs attracted more than 4,000 signatures in just two days.

In a letter to Morgan, the petition states: “The wonderful, caring and supportive education at St Christopher’s School, as well as 70 years of expertise, will be lost forever if it closes.

“There is no other educational provision of this quality within the region. If the school closes, the children will be relocated considerable distances, which will have a devastating impact on them and their families. Please stop the closure of St Christopher’s special needs school in Bristol.”

Pictures from “No to Cuts to the Bush” Facebook page