Moray MP Douglas Ross is seeking a meeting with Moray Council’s Head of Adult Services to discuss the future for Towerview Day Services in Forres. This comes after Douglas received a response to his letter asking for clarification about the facility. The response outlined plans for a consultation process with a report due in January to decide what happens going forward.
Douglas said: “I wrote to the council in August after users at Towerview were told that the facility was closing as an interim measure due to staffing issues, until December at least.
“I have now received a response which admits that the council had ongoing concerns about staffing levels prior to the facility being closed, even though they stated publicly that there was no immediate risk of the facility being closed.
“According to this response the service was actually relying on relief staff who withdrew their services at the start of August, leaving the council without provision for Towerview. That is why service users were told that the facility would not be available to them before December and have been transported to alternative facilities in Elgin ever since.
“While a report has been prepared for the Moray Integrated Joint Board and the council are consulting on the long-term future for Towerview, the public can decide for themselves what they think this means but to me that would indicate that a likely option is to close Towerview.
“I understand a further consultation will take place with staff in November, as well as meetings with service users and their families.
“With a report due to be put back in January, it is hard to imagine how the facility will be re-opened in the short-term, especially if staffing issues have not been resolved.
“I know that people in Forres very much value Towerview and that users and their families feel linked with the local community who have always been very supportive. The importance of adult services having a place in their own communities is paramount. I sincerely hope the integrated joint board will find a way to keep this highly regarded facility open. I will be doing everything I can to fight for its retention.”