CAMPAIGNERS took to the streets to protest against “short sighted” council cuts to disability services.

Members of Harrow’s Association For Disabled People (HAD) gathered at Red Brick Café, in the Wealdstone Centre, High Street, last Thursday.

Bill Philips, a member of the group, says the service previously cost £27,000 to run, but is being axed due to Harrow Council’s “short-sighted” cuts to the whole voluntary sector budget.

The service helps around 1,000 clients a year and generates more than £1,000,000 annually in welfare benefits for disabled people in the borough.

But in December, the council announced its draft budget for 2017-18, which included £17 million of budget cutbacks - including HAD.

Mr Philips, who lives in north Harrow, believes the cuts will reduce the quality of service provided to vulnerable people who need it the most.

The retired 72-year-old said: “We’re calling for the cuts to be reversed and the commitment to HAD’s current service to continue.

“We fear an inferior benefits service, which merely signposts people to forms, will be tendered.

“This will not meet the needs of people with disabilities, many of whom find the complexity of forms and the hurdles they have to jump through impossible to negotiate alone.”

Cllr Sue Anderson, who is responsible for community, culture and resident engagement at Harrow Council, said: “We will absolutely continue to deliver – and pay for – the broad range of statutory services that we provide for vulnerable and disabled people in Harrow.

“We will continue to work with Harrow’s charities to help them find new sources of funding to support our residents.

“We are going out to bidders, to procure a new information and advice service – and we promise that process will be fair and transparent.”