Friends suggest new start

Thursday, May 11, 2006 - Galloway News (Visit Web Site)

FRIENDS of Dunmuir Park are calling for a ‘fresh start’ on negotiations about the future of the hostel.

A new paper is hoped to be to be passed to the council’s adult services sub-committee (ASSC) outlining recommendations in a bid to progress positively and ‘draw a line under the past’.

The Friends have passed their list of recommendations to the Learning Disability Management Group (LDMG), formerly social work services, urging them to compile a paper to be presented to ASSC at their next meeting.

In a letter to the LDMG, Chris Green of the Friends who is also financial and welfare attorney of Dunmuir Park resident Donald Emmerson, has requested that the paper “recognises all that has happened at Dunmuir Park but does not attempt to apportion blame or responsibility and looks forward”.

The Friends are calling for the ASSC to set aside their report and decisions made on February 2 when closure was agreed.

They also want the LDMG to agree to the recommendations that those using the Dunmuir Park respite service, which was deemed unsuitable by councillors and officials, can continue to do so with the additional choice to use the new Merrick Road development.

The Friends have also called for existing residents to be considered as a single group with all new respite users referred to Merrick Road.

The recommendations call for an assurance that no residents will be encouraged to move from Dunmuir Park and the facility will be allowed to develop, including the plans for half way houses, until the service amendment has been agreed.

The recommendations add that all involved as users and their families and representatives should now work together with officers to develop the Dunmuir Park care model of the future.

The Friends say the process of development for Dunmuir Park could take four to five years if jointly developed and insist that there should be no pressure during this time.

Such an agreement, they say, would “draw a line” under the past and remove “damaging uncertainty”.

Mr Green adds: “If agreed then all action in the future will be positive and forward looking by both the families and the officers, being a much needed ‘fresh start’.

“It is a demonstration of good faith that also helps restore badly damaged trust.”

The next meeting of LDMG will be held on May 25 at the Murray Arms Hotel from 1.30pm and is open to the public.