Home closure is a total disgrace

Feb 6 2009

REGARDING the closure of Templeton House, I find it astonishing that a continuing council can squander hundreds of thousands of tax payers’ pounds on walls in Ayr (now demolished) and on a roundabout in the shape of a boat yet cannot find the upgrading of a necessary amenity.

My mother recently enjoyed a period of respite in this excellent home from home and was most impressed by the attentive staff therein.

As a full time carer to my mother it was with great relief that I learned in December that mother was entitled to a week’s respite, thereby allowing me my first holiday in three years.

At a time when politicians of all parties agree more needs to be done for carers, I find it unbelievable that South Ayrshire Council seems to be at odds with this viewpoint. I am constantly told by Social Services that my welfare is as important as my mother’s. I, like many other carers, save the council a great deal of money, so why is part of the savings not ploughed back into upgrading this home?

Templeton house is a unique facility with seventeen permanent positions available.

I attempted to secure a weekend slot in March and was informed that nothing was available due to the fact that there are now only very limited suitable vacancies in Dundonald and Troon.

This abortive situation must affect the many people similar to me.

It would seem that the council is stealthily denuding the area of funded facilities regardless of the needs of the people who live here, the Girvan pool, the Gaiety Theatre, the Civic and the Wallace Tower, all victims of badly thought out cutbacks.

The need for financial jurisprudence is understandable but the logic of selection flies out the window when, as Jimmy Millar’s letter highlights £2.2 million squandered on methadone for a section of the community who should be self funding and £15,000 is frittered away sending unqualified representatives on a junket to entice Arabs to play golf in Ayrshire in the rain. I ran golf tours for some years and I know that the areas of real impact for golf are America, Europe and Japan.

I can but reiterate my disgust in feeling that the care in our community always seems to favour the feckless and the feral. Let’s bend over backwards for the non contributors and screw the honest working tax payer and let them fend for themselves.

J. Campbell.

Prestwick.