Renfrewshire politicians have hit out at plans to merge a pair of day services for adults with learning disabilities to help plug a £14.7million budget black hole.

Senior health and social care partnership (HSCP) officials put forward a proposal to merge the Mirin and Milldale services at the latest meeting of the integration joint board (IJB).

Councillor David McGonigle, who represents Linwood, is among several local politicians who have called for the plans to be scrapped.

The Conservative man told The Gazette: "This proposed downgrade of essential services would be a blow to many local people.

"I am shocked that these cuts are even being considered and I am firmly opposed to them.

"Local constituents have raised serious concerns with me that this would have a devastating effect on some of our most vulnerable people."

Councillor Anne Hannigan, of the Liberal Democrats, described the day centres as an "absolute lifeline" for users and their families.

READ MORE: Cuts to services proposed to help plug £14.7m black hole in budget

The Paisley Southwest representative added: "It is essential that Renfrewshire Council, and the HSCP, continues to provide this vital service.

"Making users just 'manage' their own needs within their communities, without the support of proper day centre resources, was addressed before, and this led to the development of the very services now being proposed for closure or amalgamation.

"I know my predecessor Councillor Eileen McCartin, when she was Convenor of Social Work, fought hard to ensure these centres were built alongside the sports facilities, and the idea of closing them now is just ridiculous and willfully harmful to the users of these services."

A spokesperson from Renfrewshire HSCP said: "At Friday's IJB meeting, members voted that we should proceed to further develop a number of savings options that were presented. 

"This means we will now begin a period of engagement with our service users, residents, families and carers - as well as with our HSCP staff and any other relevant stakeholders - to gain a fuller understanding of all views around these options.

"The period of engagement will run until the end of January 2024. We will use feedback from these discussions to plan the safest way forward for our services, reflecting the needs of the people who use our services, and their families, at the heart of our future proposals.

"These proposals will not be presented to IJB Members to decide upon until March 2024 at the earliest."