Liberal Democrats at North Yorkshire County Council today demanded action on progressing the modernisation of day services for people with learning disabilities in Craven.

Since 2004 promises have been made that clients currently housed at Snaygill would be re-housed into suitable new accommodation.

This project was due to be in place by summer 2006 but is no further on.

Craven District Council had agreed with North Yorkshire that an extra building would be added on the land at Stepping Stones (Aireville Park) but Craven are still waiting for North Yorkshire to agree the final terms and conditions for the lease.

In the meantime, carers’ representatives were advised in January that there would be no accommodation going ahead on this site as it was far too expensive.

At today’s meeting of the Council, Skipton County Councillor Polly English today demanded to know just who is making these decisions, and commented:

“As the local ward member I have been kept completely in the dark.”

“We are failing the most vulnerable in our society.”

“Snaygill is due to close on 30 June 2008 and no decision has been made as to where we can safely house the service users.”