AN ANGRY crowd gathered in Rastrick to protest against health and bus cuts.
About 150 people waved banners and signs in Crowtrees Lane before moving on to Rastrick Health Centre.
They were demonstrating against plans to move services from the Chapel Croft centre to a state-of-the-art polyclinic – providing a range of services – at Birds Royd Lane, Brighouse. Many are also unhappy about the loss of some bus services connecting Rastrick with Brighouse.
Christine Beal, of Carr Green and Crowtrees Community Action Group, said the health centre proposal was the latest blow for Rastrick after the closure of a post office and the bus cuts.
She said: “This is why we have taken the lead in making a stand that enough is enough when it comes to taking services away from our communities.
“It’s not just our area it is affecting – the service withdrawals we’re protesting about affect the wider community of the whole of Rastrick of around 11,000 people.
“And, indeed, it’s an even wider issue than that – many communities all over the UK are upset at having various services withdrawn and centralised.
She said people were not against the idea of a new clinic in Brighouse, but unhappy that it would replace the centre in Rastrick.
“This does not have to be an either-or situation,” she said.
Protester Barbara Jackson, 66, said the service cuts had hit old people in the area.
She said: “People used to go into Brighouse most days – now they can only go once or twice a week because of the bus cuts. £5 for a taxi is a lot out of your pension.
“I think Rastrick is being drained of services – it’s always been a poor relation of Calderdale and this proves it. What is Rastrick now? It’s being treated like a dump.”
Geoffrey Barlow, 63, claimed the closure of the health centre could put people’s lives at risk.
Mr Barlow, who lives at Ward Court, next to the centre, said: “I had a problem with my chest and it took me no time to walk over to the health centre to get it looked out. It turned out I had a lung problem.
“I don’t know what I would have done if I’d had to go to Brighouse. It’s disgusting. They are going to kill people.”
Susan Green’s mother Florence Walsh, 87, uses the Rastrick centre every week.
She said: “She has diabetes and needs regular check-ups. This will be very inconvenient and unfair. It will take away a lot of people’s independence.”
Calder Valley Labour MP Christine McCafferty was backing the protests.
She said: “Polyclinics are a great idea – centres of excellence for local people. But the intention shouldn’t be to close local services and I fully support the residents in what they are saying.”
Calderdale Primary Care Trust, which runs the health centre, defended its position.
Associate Director David Waddingham said: “We were approached by GPs from Rastrick Health Centre and the two Brighouse practices that were keen to develop new premises.
“We have since been working closely with them to consider how we deliver a range of high quality health services for people in Brighouse and Rastrick.
“This includes general practices, pharmacy services and some specialist services that are currently provided in hospitals.
“We will continue to engage with local people on the development of services in the area. We will also support the three practices as they engage with their patients on any changes to local surgeries.”
