Earlsmoor Rally - mass support from Christmas Shoppers

Labour’s Geraint Davies’ campaigners to save Earlsmoor Respite Care Home joined forces with UNISON petitioners in the city centre this Saturday. Together they generated mass support from Christmas shoppers against the Liberal Democrat plans to cash in valuable Brynmill land by closing Earlsmoor Respite Care Home.

Said Geraint Davies “We’ve distributed over 10,000 Say No to Closing Earlsmoor leaflets in the past few weeks at the same time as UNISON have collected thousands of names on their petition against closing Earlsmoor.”

“Swansea Christmas shoppers gave us enthusiastic support for our campaign to keep Earlsmoor open and to send our vulnerable elderly a positive message of hope this Christmas”.

“The Lib Dem Council are attempting a land grab at Brynmill to prop up their ailing finances. They’ve already sold £60 million of Swansea’s property and land at the worst possible time to sell. This time it’s important that they take notice of growing public opposition.

“Instead their councillors have boycotted packed public meetings to discuss closure plans for Earlsmoor driven by their need to balance the books. Democracy demands that councillors are accountable for their actions in cutting local services for the vulnerable elderly in our community to pay for a financial crisis of their own making.” 

Earlsmoor users speak out

Thousands of carers across Swansea have often given up their jobs to care for loved ones. They use Earlsmoor for short stay residential care for their relatives so they can have a break or go on holiday. Without Earlsmoor many carers couldn’t cope so and the Council would need to provide more expensive full time care instead for their relatives.

89 year old Mrs.Muriel Goldstraw is cared for by her daughter Mrs. Margaret Reynolds and son in law Rev. Dr. Trevor Reynolds and needs round the clock support. She stays at Earlsmoor so that Mrs and Rev,Reynolds can have a break and go on holiday. She is happy with the high standards of cleanliness and care provided at Earlsmoor and looks forward to staying there. She fears that without Earlsmoor the strain might grow too great and she would end up in a nursing home full time.

She says “It’s important that people rally round to safeguard this vital facility not just for me and my family but for countless others who are cared for and their families across Swansea.”

Now Margaret, Trevor and Muriel feature in the campaign literature which they are helping to distribute.

Said Geraint Davies “Many people have joined our campaign who have not been active campaigners in the past. They simply think it’s wrong that the Council choose to hit the most vulnerable in their latest round of cuts.”