“Our lifeline will be taken away, leaving us alone in our homes until we die.”
This was the response of a pensioner to the potential loss of wardens under the council’s proposed changes of sheltered housing provision.
Anne Morrison, an 81-year-old widow, lives alone at the Glebe Court sheltered complex in Kirriemuir and has no family nearby.
She said the housing wardens go “above and beyond” the call of duty, helping residents with personal errands and organising Christmas lunches.
Angus Council stressed that no decision has been reached yet and that a public consultation over provision was carried out.
But Mrs Morrison, who has multiple health difficulties, said: “We are all very worried, myself and the other residents too. There are about 35 of us and most have no family living locally. We rely on the warden to check on us.
“She is fantastic and so are all the others who are brought in when she is off. What I’ve heard is that the council don’t have the money to keep this going.
“But if we don’t have a warden I don’t know what we’ll do. The wardens bring us lunch, cups of tea, they check that we’re OK and they organise events such as Christmas lunches.
“We’re worried that our lifeline will be taken away, leaving us alone in our homes until we die.
“Everybody here is on tenterhooks.”
Angus council will have to make savings of £5.5 million and £6.78m over the next two years, respectively, and has been warned by Audit Scotland of the huge financial pressure ahead.
The authority is in the midst of its Transforming Angus programme, which will affect public services.
Angus Council leader Iain Gaul has issued an assurance that the views of sheltered housing complex residents are being listened to.
He said: “This is an important consultation with residents.
“It will help us assess what people want and need from the sheltered housing service to ensure it is fit for purpose in the future.
“I would like to thank all of the residents who have taken part in the consultation.
“We will now be looking in detail at all of the responses and I stress everyone’s views will be considered as part of that process.
“No decisions have been taken.”