A domestic cleaning service that helps elderly and disabled people live independently is facing the axe because of council cuts.
Proposals to cut the service come as Caerphilly County Borough Council tries to make £14.5 million savings in 2014/15.
Caerphilly Observer has been contacted by several concerned residents who use the service.
They told us news of the possible cut came from a letter sent out by Pontllanfraith firm Village Domestic Services.
David Pask, 82, from Cwmfelinfach, suffered from pneumonia last year and is awaiting an operation on his hand.
He lives with wife Linda, 79, and told us that if the service was taken away they would struggle.
He said: “I don’t know how we’d manage without her. She cleans the oven for example, we can’t get down on our knees to clean the oven.
“If she is sacked, we will scrape to pay her to clean for us. We can’t afford it but we’d have to make it happen.”
Mr Pask added the couple’s cleaner often went beyond the call of duty with her help.
The letter sent out by Village Domestic Services said its services could be cut by the summer.
Ynysddu councillor Janet Jones criticised the firm for causing unnecessary stress to vulnerable people.
She said: “It’s an awful thing to do to elderly people, it might not happen and everyone needs to be assessed separately.
“I’m disgusted it’s gone out to vulnerable people.”
Tracey White, owner of Village Domestic Services, defended the letter.
She said: “I wrote it to advise clients of what was due to happen and give them a chance to save their service. Once a decision has been made it’s too late.
“I didn’t want to alarm them. They’re upset, but they are not upset with me – they are upset with the council who are considering stopping their service.”
A council spokesman denied that the cut was a formality and said if it goes ahead it would only affect residents who receive the cleaning service in isolation and not alongside other care.
He said: “This is one of a number of savings proposals being put forward and will be fully considered at a meeting of council later this month before any decisions are taken.
“The council is working hard to protect essential services in the community, but we are facing an unprecedented savings target over the next three years totalling £28 million.”
Councillors are due to discuss the budget for 2014/15 at a meeting on Wednesday February 26.
• Another council service facing the axe is a children’s water park in Senghenydd Park.
A petition has been signed by over 800 residents opposed to plans to cut £6,000 in funding to the Splash Pad, following a meeting on February 10 attended by 40 parents.
Cllr Lyndon Binding, Chair of Aber Valley Partnership said: “This water play feature was installed a few years ago following a great deal of hard work by local people.
“The whole community rallied around and removing funding would be a kick in the teeth.”
As long as Harry Andrews does not have to act to recover the money taken illegally by the forty thieves, he will cut anything.
Andrews can of course cut the twice a year paid holiday for councilors and many of the forty thieves, called the twinning trip, but he won't. He could has he suggested cut the cabinet members to eight, but he won't.
Harry and the forty thieves will as labour has always done, cut services to the poor, those who can't fight back, typical cowardly labour.
Mr l Turner
Well said!
Cut this service and then see the hundreds losing a service assessed by social services and having packages of expensive care! Complete madness,costing us al much more, a service run by people who have no grasp of strategic planning. This is a failing council.
They found the money to spend 90million in Bargoed.