A Lanarkshire club that provides a vital service for disabled people is in danger of closing, after a health group suspended its transport – to review the bus' impact on the climate.
Eastfield Physical Disability Club has served the Rutherglen and Cambuslang area for more than 30 years, and meets every week at Fernhill community centre.
The group consists of around 20 members, half of whom were taken to the weekly meetings by a bus that was provided by South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership (SLHSCP).
Since the group resumed its meetings earlier this year, after being inactive during the pandemic, members have been told a bus cannot currently be provided, leaving group organiser Betty Baker to try and pick up as many members as she can in her own car.
SLHSCP says the bus has been halted while it carries out a review into how its services can "tackle the climate crisis".
No timescale has been provided by the body on how long the review will last, or when it will end.
Betty, who has been involved with the volunteer-run club for many years and takes her own husband David there, says the transport issue is already causing problems for some members who can no longer attend.
She told Lanarkshire Live: "It has been like hitting my head off a brick wall. The hall and the bus were always sorted out together in the past. When we started meeting up after Covid, I was told the bus wasn't available anymore and they could only deal with the hall.
"I've phoned the transport manager and was told it was social work that was handling it, but they've said they can't do anything about it. Every time I try and phone I just get passed about from one person to the next without properly speaking to anyone.
"I've also been told I should be speaking to SPT about their bus services, but I've never dealt with them before about the club."
Betty insists the club has many benefits for its members.
She added: "There's about 10 people that use the bus to get to the community centre. I've tried to give lifts to some of them but there's only so many that can go in my car - it can only take one wheelchair, after all.
"It's making people reluctant to go, or to try and book taxis, and the club is an important thing for them – it's a chance to get out the house, to go and do something.
"It also gives their carers or family members a couple of hours for a break too, and that's important as well. We're all volunteers here, but we can't keep trying to collect everyone and take them here too – we could have to close if we can't sort this."
Group members take part in arts and crafts, play dominoes and games and enjoy the opportunity to have a chat each Thursday.
They also carry out other activities such as days out and meeting up for a Christmas dinner each year.
Soumen Sengupta, director of the South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) said: "As the focus for our residents moves beyond the challenges of the last two years, the HSCP is reviewing its use of transport to ensure a fair approach across our communities that contributes to tackling the climate crisis and provides best value.
"While that review is ongoing, we will engage with groups like Eastfield Physically Disabled Club to discuss the needs of their service users and the supports available to them."
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