THE chairman of Clydeshopmobility, the community-led charity which provides help to disabled people, has spoken of his frustration as the organisation attempts to launch satellite sites in the Vale.

Up until April this year Clydeshopmobility, which for a small membership fee supplies transport and mobility equipment including scooters to its users, operated three shops in Balloch, Clydebank and Alexandria.

The organisation, which relies on funding from West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC), was forced to close the Alexandria premises in April after two council employees who had been seconded to work at the project for the last three years were recalled by WDC.

According to Jackie Maciera, Clydeshopmobility’s chairman, an agreement was put in place that would see the council assist the organisation in finding a suitable location from which to run a satellite operation in Alexandria.

Despite what he regarded as productive talks between Clydeshopmobility and Amanda Coulthard, the council’s corporate and community planning manager, the plans have stalled.

Mr Maciera said: “We went and had a meeting, a bit of a brainstorming thing to see how we could take this forward but we have not heard a dickie bird back and I’m beginning to think the council is not interested in taking it forward. “We hoped to launch pilot schemes to keep the service running in Alexandria. We are going to be putting two scooters in the new Alexandria health centre so that will help there but we had hoped for a portable cabin on the grounds of the old centre. We have spoken with the NHS and they seem keen to let us site it there, but every time we try to do something we seem to hit a wall with the council.”

Mr Maciera believes that Clydeshopmobility makes a positive impact that shouldn’t be measured in monetary terms, but his frustration was clear as he took another swipe at the council, adding: “I think the council would like us to become a self-sufficient enterprise but that’s never going to happen. This shouldn’t be about money it’s about social inclusion and making people feel good about themselves.

“There are 92,000 living here and there are thousands of them who have mobility problems of some sort. These people add to the local economy if they can get out and about. If you can get from one end of Alexandria to the other then you will spend money going for lunches and things like that. If they can’t then they will just go elsewhere. I’m disillusioned with the council. They seem to be building their own power base rather than helping the people here. We need answers as to why it is taking so long. I have stayed quiet but I am getting fed up, but it’s getting ridiculous.”

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “The council is committed to continuing its support of Shopmobility and values the work they do in helping vulnerable local residents. This is demonstrated by the annual £50,000 funding allocated to the group and the regular advice provided by officers.

“We had a positive meeting with the organisation’s Board last month to assist them develop a business plan. One of the actions from this meeting was for Shopmobility to explore if a satellite site could be found at the Vale of Leven Health and Care Centre, and if the National Park could offer additional storage for scooters. Shopmobility Board are best placed to update how this has progressed.

The council will continue to work with Shopmobility members to help them grow and develop in line with their capacity and external funding.”

More information on the organisation can be found at: clydeshopmobility.co.uk.