Wellbeing hubs moving too far away, say users

Concerned residents held a protest outside Leeds Civic Hall

Plans to relocate mental health services in Leeds to save money mean some users may have to take up to three buses to access support, opponents said.

The support hubs, currently in Beeston and Armley, will be moved to other locations as Leeds City Council seeks to save £500,000 this year.

New sites were confirmed at a meeting last week, but residents who used a centre in Stocks Hill staged a protest, arguing the replacement venue in Horsforth "was not a part of their community".

However a council spokesperson said: "People accessing services would be supported to transition to alternative sites."

As well as the centre in Stocks Hill moving to the Calverlands Complex Needs Centre in Horsforth, the Lovell Park hub will be moving to Wykebeck Complex Needs Centre and the Vales Circles hub will join Laurel Bank Complex Needs Centre in Middleton.

Norman Forsyth, 78, said it would take multiple bus journeys for some people to get to the new site from Armley.

Speaking outside Leeds Civic Hall, he said: "We have support workers who help us, and peer support groups.

"It's going to be two buses for some of us and for some it's three buses."

The Stocks Hill Hub will move to the Calverlands Complex Needs Centre in Horsforth

The centres offer support groups and wellbeing activities for adults, but the council said attendance had declined at the hubs and they only opened two or three days a week.

The local authority also said the hubs had not seen investment for many years and the cost of maintenance and repairs had increased, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A spokesperson confirmed the level of service would not be reduced and people would still have access to help.

They added: "People accessing services would be supported to transition to alternative sites identified within personalised reviews and in accordance with their individual needs."

The Lovell Park and Vales Circles buildings could be sold off after they are vacated, the council said.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.