EACH week readers write in to share their views on all manner of topics.

One such topic which has prompted much reaction is the closure of three Cheshire West and Cheshire Council respite and short stay care centres.

This week, Ray McHale, the secretary of the West Cheshire Trades Union Council, has had his say.

Ray said: "The closure of the council’s respite and short stay care centres is a betrayal of the 92 staff who face losing their jobs.

"Despite being elected on a manifesto of seeking to in-source jobs this action amounts to privatisation of the service – facilitated by £1m in redundancy costs.

"All the words of councillors about redeployment and 'looking after staff' are little more than window dressing, especially when we hear that most staff from Leftwich Green left the council’s employment following its temporary closure.

READ MORE > Leftwich Green care home closes permanently as council approves controversial reform

"It has been apparent that management wanted to close these centres for some years and now they look set to achieve this by a combination of managed decline and opportunism.

"Lack of capital investment (the sort the council pours into shopping centres) has left facilities unmodernised and even basic up-keep in need of £1m of spending. No doubt this has been a factor in reducing demand. 

When Leftwich Green was 'temporarily closed' in 2018, by a safeguarding issue, it is clear that most clients – who well-regarded the service – declined alternatives in the voluntary and private sector.  

"This evaporation of demand has clearly offered managers a way forward for the other centres too. The offer of direct payments to carers to go away and sort things out for themselves, with the back-up of beds in the private sector, produced a chance to dramatically cut the whole service.

"Councillors even portray this as a service improvement and more choice. But all the 'new' options they now trumpet exist and most run alongside the current service. The only real change is the loss of the in-house option.

"This guise of 'increased choice' was the basis on which the county council’s Homecare and 'meals-on-wheels' services were dismantled.

The most disturbing aspect of this is the refusal to undertake a public consultation on the closures.

These were only announced after the budget consultation – which left little chance for the public to input into the debate held just one week later. A proper review of this service with transparent consideration of options was seemingly the last thing the council wanted.  

When challenged at the budget meeting it was stated that nothing would be decided until cabinet looked at the issue in June. But when councillors argued against the proposal at People’s Scrutiny Committee in June they were then told the projected savings were now part of the budget, so any change would need alternative savings (Catch 22).

When suggested that one or more centres be retained we are told this won’t give the 'local provision' that they claim people want – even though clients can already opt for non-council alternatives.

The Trades Union Council believes that with investment and a serious commitment this service could be cost-effectively retained to play a key role in both supporting carers and reducing bed-blocking, by facilitating hospital discharges.

If the closures go ahead they will represent the dismantling of the final aspect of publicly provided care in our borough.