Deaf campaigners stop trams in city centre
DEAF campaigners staged a sit-down protest and stopped trams in Nottingham city centre.
Members of Nottingham's deaf community were drawing attention to proposed cuts in the city council's budget.
-
The council is today due to agree proposals which will reduce the authority's deaf team from 10 members of staff to three.
It is one of a number of controversial measures which will also see changes to day care for people with learning disabilities, the closure of a care home for people with learning disabilities and increase charges for the care of older people.
The city council have said it has been forced to reduce expenditure in some areas to pay for additional costs in children's services and some aspects of adult social care.
It claims it is offering some services in a different and more efficient way.
In all, the council is seeking to make savings of £18m.
Some of the additional costs it faces also include £5m set aside to pay for redundancy payments and £3m which must be put back into reserves which are at a low level.
The council expects 166 full time equivalent jobs to be lost as a result of the costs.
13 Comments
View all
by john dickinson, nottingham
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 6:59AM
“So a few people had their shopping trip interrupted for an hour- it is not a life-threatening event. The cuts in services to deaf and disabled people will directly put lives at risk. The comments on this forum make me ashamed to be part of the human race, let alone from Nottingham. People need jolting out of their smug complacency. I hope someone stands up for you when you are old, frail and vulnerable”
by Member of Deaf Community, South Nottingham
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 5:34PM
“The deaf people are really proud to stage a protest in the Market Square to draw attention to the City Council' decision to cut services to save millions of pounds.
Why not stage a sit-in on the tram lines in order to disrupt tram services which is are the City Council's Showpiece....
I would say "Well Done" to them!!
The City Council should delay the expansion of tram lines for few years in order the millions of pounds can be diverted to the services which is facing the cuts....
As for starky comments from Mr Tumnus, you have obviously shown yourself what a simple minded person you really are!!!!!.....”
by Chris Watkinson, Nottingam
Monday, March 08 2010, 8:38PM
“I say well done the deaf community for protesting, too many times people shy away from speaking out and do not say what they needs to be said. Today people took a stand and spoke out. Action inspires action. Well done Notts deaf community.”
by mr tumnus, narnia
Monday, March 08 2010, 6:29PM
“could the tram driver not just have swerved round them ?”
by m, gedling
Monday, March 08 2010, 4:35PM
“" and £3m which must be put back into reserves which are at a low level"
they should have protested outside Iceland,”
by Bill Lawrenson, Keyworth
Monday, March 08 2010, 4:03PM
“Well this protest was really aimed at winning friends and influencing people. I suggest any future protest is aimed at those making the decisions and not at the general public who are having a hard enough time as it is.”
by mr tumnus, narnia
Monday, March 08 2010, 3:38PM
“looks like aslan is for the chop......yet again.”
by Aslan, disowning Tumnus
Monday, March 08 2010, 3:15PM
“In that case Mr. Tumnus they'd be as stupid as you!”
by mr tumnus, narnia
Monday, March 08 2010, 3:01PM
“they may have eyes but what if they were facing the wrong way ?”
by Ford, The World
Monday, March 08 2010, 2:50PM
“Disrupting the tram system - how is that going to help their cause? Protest yes, but disrupting innocent commuters is selfish”