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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jonathan Geddes

Lanarkshire locals 'kept in the dark' over when community services will fully resume

Residents of a Lanarkshire town say they are being "kept in the dark" over when key community services wll fully resume in the area.

The Money Matters service in Cambuslang, which provides financial help and advice to those in need, has not resumed giving advice face-to-face since the coronavirus pandemic.

That has sparked fears from campaigners that people at risk will be missing out on crucial guidance.

The town's library is still running a limited hours service and shutting before 4pm every day, despite neighbouring facilities in other towns being fully open.

A survey carried out by Cambuslang Community Council (CCC) revealed scores of people in the area felt let down by the current services, with over 70 per cent of those surveyed saying they preferred face-to-face advice with Money Matters rather than speaking to someone over the phone or by email.

The community group says questions to South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture ((SLLC)) about the situation have gone unanswered, although a meeting is now scheduled for later this week.

One local responded : "I prefer working with human beings face-to-face as I have partial hearing. I am also dyslexic so need face to face interactions. I rely heavily on human contact and social connection.”

Another service user said: "There is so much paperwork to deal with. I was overwhelmed and needed to see someone in person who could actually fill out paperwork and organise all the documents and do all the financial statements.

"I could not face doing this over the phone and couldn’t have managed this online. I really needed the help and support of the staff there."

A third person added: "My learners struggle with online services as they lack digital literacy skills."

CCC say requests for information to SLLC, who operate the services, have gone unanswered and they have been "kept in the dark."

Clare Williamson of the community council told us : "We submitted a participation request to South Lanarkshire Council to find out what’s happening. But this was rejected with the Council referring us to its delivery body, SLLC.

"They haven’t replied to requests for information.

"We consider it intolerable that the local community is being kept in the dark. The UK is in the worst cost-of-living crisis in living memory, which is expected to get worse as a result of inflation, wages not keeping pace with price increases, and rapidly rising energy prices.

Clare Haughey wants to see improved services (West Lothian Courier)

"Significant numbers of financially vulnerable people will experience poverty and indebtedness. More than ever, face-to-face advice services are needed."

Cambuslang Library re-opened in May this year, several weeks after services resumed in other Lanarkshire areas.

However while nearby Rutherglen is open from 9.15am until 6pm, with late night openings until 8pm every Thursday, Cambuslang is only open from 9.45am until 3.45pm each day - meaning many people cannot access the service.

One response to the community council survey hit out, saying: "It's disgraceful. When I am supposed to visit with my school aged children? My parents used the library twice a week and at their age it was a much needed lifeline of support."

The library is also shut at weekends.

Lanarkshire Live understands a meeting is scheduled between campaigners and SLLC for October 27, where they intend to raise their concerns.

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has also called for an improved service.

She said: "After closures throughout the pandemic, it has been great to see services open their doors again. However, I know that there are concerns locally that both Cambuslang Library and Money Matters are yet to re-open fully.

"Whilst I appreciate that there are staffing issues at the library, we know that libraries are much more than books and are vital community assets. The council and SLLC need to ramp up efforts to recruit as a local priority.

“With regard to Money Matters, they do incredible work helping South Lanarkshire residents obtain benefits they are entitled to – totalling millions of pounds annually. In the midst of the cost of living crisis, there is undoubtedly a growing need for their services.

"The council need to reopen face-to-face services now."

A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC) said: “We manage the Libraries across South Lanarkshire and are in ongoing discussions with South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) who manage the premises at Cambuslang Gate from which the Library operates.

“Both SLLC and SLC are meeting representatives of the Cambuslang Community Council this week to discuss various matters including the Cambuslang Library and Money Matters service delivered from Cambuslang Gate.”

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