A lifeline for the borough's disabled was cut by Sutton Council yesterday, but members are vowing it will reappear in an independent form as soon as next month.

Strawberry Lodge in Carshalton was the setting for what was an emotional final curtain call for the STAR Club following a protracted war with the council, firstly over attendance charges and secondly over its very future, which has taken a huge toll on members.

Sandy Dye, who has led the fight for the social club as chairman of its members committee the Friends of STAR Club (FOSTAR), suffered a heart attack recently, which she attributed partly to her relentless campaigning.

But members and volunteers have said an independent club will be back, as early as Monday, December 3, running three days a week as opposed to the current four, but facing an uphill battle to raise a sufficient level of funding to keep going.

Long-term volunteer Jane Bird, who will be its new manager, said: "We are just going to try and keep it going members are clinging to the hope the club will go on.

"They rely on each other so much the thought of being separated is unbearable. And for Sandy, we felt we had to not let her hard work go to waste."

STAR's loss of funding formed part of a £120,000 cut in council disability services agreed in the last round of budget savings.

It was the hardest hit of three disability organisations to lose council funding this week unlike voluntary bodies Disability Action Sutton (DAS) and the Sutton Alliance for Disabled People (SADP), it was set up and funded almost entirely by the local authority.

Remaining resources have been ploughed into a new council service, based at the Sutton Centre for Independent Living and Learning (SCILL), which will be up and running this Monday.

The loss of almost £65,000 its major source of funding left SADP's trustees on the verge of shutting up shop.

Manager Rob Bowler said: "We are seeking new funding to start a project on welfare benefits take-up, which is low among the disabled."

DAS lost £14,000 in the cuts. Chairman Shirley Mason said of the new service: "I support anything which will assist people in the community. But I don't think it will cater for the needs of all disabled people."

A council spokesman said preparations for the new service were proceeding smoothly. He added: "Key new staff have been appointed, including a dedicated care manager who is helping ensure a smooth transition for care users."

November 16, 2001 11:32