Wirral News letters: March 30

Mar 30 2011 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

Two sides of care debate

THERE’S been a lot of rhetoric about the looming closures of respite and care homes and I thought it would be useful for all users of these services and their carers to have a summary of where we are now and how the rhetoric compares with reality.

Rhetoric: “Care plans for people who use respite care will be completed this week”. Cllr Moon, 16 March.

Reality: Don’t know anyone who has received a care plan.

Rhetoric: “Every individual will have one single point of contact so that they aren’t passed from person to person to get the advice that they need”. Cllr Moon, 9 Feb.

Every person will have a dedicated liaison worker to help them make the choices that are right for them and to avoid them being pushed around different departments in the council. Cllr Green, 19 Feb.

Reality: Don’t know anyone who has a single point of contact. Agency social workers from other boroughs were brought in to do assessments and will disappear again in a few weeks.

Rhetoric: “This will be a seamless transition (Dictionary definition = Orderly, logical & consistent change from one state to another.)”. Cllr Moon, every other day since records began!

Reality: Confusion, fear, apologies for poor communication, U-Turns, legal battles with service users, broken promises re single point of contact & care plans, inept provider evaluation process, no continuity of respite staff, ignoring MP’s request for a response to her questions, etc.

My next step is to refer this “Seamless Transition” to the Local Government Ombudsman. In the meantime I would like the council to match their rhetoric with action and stop issuing meaningless sound bites to the people of Wirral.

Brian Donaldson

Heswall

Young talent

THIS year I again had the delight of attending Spotlight on Youth at the Floral Pavilion Theatre.

This annual showcase featured youngsters from 5 to 19 years old. The 33 acts were absolutely excellent, spanning singing, dancing, drama, comedy, gymnastics, a rock band, and opera.

All the performances were polished to perfection and would certainly give the likes of X-Factor a run for its money.

The added bonus is that the event’s proceeds all go to the The Mayor of Wirral’s charity appeal.

In these days of so much adverse comment, it was good to see how hard-working, dedicated and talented are so many of Wirral’s youngsters.

A big thanks to all the performers and production team. Also to the Floral Pavilion Theatre staff for their usual first class effort.

Cllr Steve Williams

Moreton West & Saughall Massie

Powerful idea

WE are informed that a new high voltage circuit is to be brought inshore at Meols after travelling on the seabed from the west coast of Scotland.

It is proposed that the cable route onwards to Connah’s Quay will be overland, with massive high-voltage pylons, along the Wirral peninsula.

Surely in this day and age the cables could be buried deep in the sea between the Irish Sea and Connah’s Quay.

GERALD L CORLETT

Abbey Road, West Kirby

Doggone crazy

IT IS REPORTED that the mandarins at the Scottish Government have now introduced the power to issue ‘dog asbos’ pursuant to the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.

Whilst we are all reeling north and south of the border under the cuts of the recession and total unemployed grows daily, it simply beggars belief that we continue to employ civil servants with ‘fat cat salaries’ with nothing better to do than devise legislation, no doubt accompanied by a plethora of regulations and rules which are so far removed from the exigencies of daily life.

One wonders at the cost of investigating these cases, bringing them to court and then enforcing the asbos. With the prisons currently overflowing where will we houses the offenders who breach these orders?

How many front line services and public sector jobs could be saved if this risible legislation was dumped?

Have they lost the plot?

David Kirwan

Former Wirral councillor

What a night

HOYLAKE & West Kirby Soroptimist's Charity Quiz Night on March 19 in aid of Hoylake Cottage raised £500.80.

We wish to thank our sponsors Hoylake Sailing Club, Bertram Burrows, Harris Opticians & Vanilla Lounge and for donations to the raffle Wah Wah Shoes, A D Melling Opticians, Britannia & Rex Taylor & Meadows.

Colleen Knowles

Via email

Bootiful work

CONGRATULATIONS to the BTEC Business students at the Oldershaw School who persevered with their car boot business and were rewarded at the third attempt on Saturday, March 19, with a very successful car boot.

Thanks to all the customers who gave helpful feedback which will be used to make the next Car Boot on 2 April even better. Thanks to Wirral News for your support for the students. Charities wishing to raise funds at the car boot please contact us.

Simon Walker

Director of Business & Enterprise

Hopes are high

THE publication of the long awaited government Green Paper was a big day for all of us directly or indirectly associated with special education needs.

At the time of writing I’ve yet to get my head around what it means to me as Chair of Governors of a special school, for my fellow Governors or more importantly the young people at my school and the impact on parents, carers and teachers. I hope it will improve and simplify the all round provision for those young people.

With current legislation and guidance so out of date, I have my hopes high.

What is important is the consultation period during which anyone with a view can respond to the Green Paper and I encourage all interested parties to engage in this process. This is our opportunity to make the system work for us and to give every child the opportunity to reach their full potential. Every child matters.

Geoff Gubb

Meadowside Special School