North Lanarkshire Shopmobility users campaign to save 'vital' service

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Users of the “essential lifeline” Shopmobility service in Coatbridge have told how they will be impacted by its forthcoming closure, saying that its loss will “take our independence off us”.

The town’s mobility hub and its sister facility in Motherwell will both shut on October 28 after their operator, the Health and Wellness Hub, announced that it was no longer financially viable to run the service – which costs £64,000 per year and has been losing £5000 per month since April.

Disabled people who hire scooters and wheelchairs from the two centres will stage a protest at the Coatbridge venue next week and are demanding that North Lanarkshire Council resume funding the scheme, as it did before transferring its running to the charity in 2019.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Margaret and John Sharp are both regular users of the Coatbridge mobility hub and say being able to hire scooters will prevent them being able to access health appointments, shops and social activities around the town centre.The mum and son both have muscular dystrophy while John, 56, is also paralysed down his right side after suffering a stroke 12 years ago which meant he had to leave his job in London and move back to his hometown.