FUNDING cuts to Dial A Ride will see a reduction of more than a third in the services available to its elderly and disabled users, according to one councillor.

After a meeting with Dial A Ride users and management yesterday Swindon Council’s Labour leader Coun Derique Montaut said the Tory administration’s proposals to cut £50,000 from the organisation would mean a 35 per cent reduction in the services it can offer.

But council leader Rod Bluh said the service has to be run more efficiently and accused its management of failing to co-operate with the council.

The voluntary organisation, which currently receives £331,000 from the council, provides transport for vulnerable users who would otherwise find it difficult to travel.

The plan to reduce its funding by £50,000 is included in Swindon Council’s budget proposals which will be discussed at a full council meeting on Thursday, January 14.

Cabinet members have previously told the Adver that the saving would be found through efficiency savings which would not have a negative effect on the service offered.

But Coun Montaut said: “This cut will have a huge impact on the users and they are rightly worried about that.

“If this goes through it will mean a 35 per cent reduction in their services. It could eventually threaten the very existence of Dial A Ride.

“This is a service that is a lifeline to vulnerable people. It allows them to things they wouldn’t otherwise be able to do. The users have asked us to campaign on their behalf.

“The Tory administration has picked on a vulnerable group that they think will not be able to defend themselves.”

Coun Montaut, who attended the meeting with fellow councillors Jim Grant and Ray Ballman, said he will be enlisting the help of Swindon’s two MPs and starting a Downing Street petition.

Coun Bluh said: “I never wanted this to become confrontational. All we are trying to do is engage with Dial A Ride and find the most efficient way to deliver that service.

“We feel there is a resistance to engage from Dial A Ride.

“Far from wanting to reduce its service we would like to see it expand.

“There are 5,000 potential customers for this service in Swindon but only 600 on the books of Dial A Ride.

“It is a well known and well-liked service but it has to be efficient because this is taxpayers’ money we are talking about.”