Tories propose further cuts to Dial-a-Ride

12.00.00am GMT Mon 12th Feb 2007

The Conservative-run County Council have been blasted by a local disability group, after proposing further cuts to is set to Dial a Ride. The service is relied upon by thousands of elderly and disabled residents to carry out daily tasks and visit friends and family.

The County Council have announced that the service will be cut from its current operating hours of 9am to 7pm Monday to Saturday to just 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. This would save the county council just £80,000, but mean thousands of residents will be excluded from taking part in society outside office hours.

Watford-based DRUM (Disability Recreation Unity Movement) said that members and their carers rely heavily on this service. A spokesman said, "Without Dial-a-Ride, our day services and social events on a Saturday are under threat".

Cllr David Major said, "These cuts will have a devastating effect on our elderly and disabled residents. Dial-a-Ride is already quite limited in its services and this will make the situation worse. The Conservative run council spends almost £5milion on its own publicity - could they not have cut that instead?"