Council denies charity’s claim

OLDHAM Council has defended its support for the blind after criticism in a “shocking” report from the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

The charity claims Oldham has seen one of the biggest drops in support for the blind and partially-sighted — 82 per cent since 2005, placing Oldham among England’s 20 worst local authorities.

But the council claims the opposite is true: the fall is due to its success in helping people to become independent.

The RNIB report, “Facing Blindness Alone”, says between 2005-2013 there was a 43 per cent decline in the number of blind and partially-sighted people getting even the most basic council support acros the UK.

But Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Oldham Council’s cabinet member for social care and public health, said: “The team assesses individual needs and provides essential support across a range of areas.”

Oldham’s team supports 179 people: “In recent years the number of people we support has fallen due to the team’s good work. They provide effective rehabilitation programmes,” said Councillor Brownridge.

“The majority of the improvements requested in the RNIB report are already in place in Oldham.”