Councillors vote to close respite centre

APROPOSAL to close the Granton Road Respite Service was approved yesterday by the city council’s health, social care and housing committee.

The centre, which is used by 28 people with learning difficulties, is due to close its doors in January. The council said it was unsuitable for some of the service users, who found its upper floor inaccessible. The £250,000 a year spent running the unit is to be ploughed into other city respite services.

In a separate move, a controversial proposal for a 90-bed nursing home in Cramond was due to be approved by the council today. The plan was opposed by neighbours ,who said it was too big for the site and feared an increase in traffic congestion.

It was recommended for approval at last month’s committee, but the decision was deferred. A council spokesman said: “It was decided to postpone a decision until a visit to the site took place. This happened the following day and a decision will be taken on Wednesday.”