A Down's syndrome man and Special Olympics champion who has been working for free for years is now being charged a fee to wash councillors' dishes.

Virgil Taylor has been helping to wash up, wipe tables and set up trolleys in a restaurant used by town hall staff for 17 years as part of subsidised adult care services.

Every week Mr Taylor - who won a gold medal at the Special Olympics in Glasgow in 2005 - has attended 10 sessions run by the William Knowles Centre in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

But now savage cuts have ended the subsidies and the 34-year-old will have to pay £2.50 per session for the 'privilege' of cleaning up after councillors.Those at the council should hang their heads in shame.'

Cllr Ian Peddlesden, North Somerset Council's executive member for community services, adult services and housing, said: 'I believe most people receive other allowances that would cover these charges.

'The introduction of the fees was the result of the review we carried out after we won the elections last May.

'They pay for transport and also lunch if care service users spend whole days at sessions.

'This is the first complaint I have received about this.'

A council spokesman added: 'A non-attendance charge will only be applied for repeated failure to attend. It will not apply for planned absences.'http://tinyurl.com/4ewt9a




They should get in touch with their mp, if I lived in that county, I'd do it anyway. Its disgusting.

Somerset   Weston super mare.  If thats how they treat people I'm glad I don't live there.

Am I reading this Correct?   A Man Has To Pay??  for the privilege?? of 'Cleaning Up' AFTER LAZY -------
Councillors -- That cannot be right?/ That would NOT happen in this country --- Would It???
If 'things' are really that BAD   Why don't the so called Coucillors (voted into office by the people) --
 Do The JOB (poor things) between them  --
 OR?  pay out of their exccessive Expences
 No Good saying 'Shameless' when the councillors are NOT   ASHAMED ---  One of our friends is going to Weston 'under' mare' this weekend --- Shucks

Hello Val, Unable to find 'link' for photo;and full story??
I cannot find the right words to describe just how I feel, about this 'Degregation' of a Human being ??  -- Voluteers, should withdraw their Labour, untill this Man has been 'reinstated' and given a salary --- again, plus Damages!!

When a site has a long address or url, I use tiny url, it shortens it to something manageable but wil still click back to the same site.

Mac,  Do you really believe The Media, would make that issue widly known ? -- We, are only The little people??

Reading this article it sounds as though this poor man does this for 10 sessions each week, which makes him have to pay £25 a week!  These are the things which make me angry.

 

Only Criminals deserve the best and most definately receive that standard!! -- Which reminds me!!  Our local prison is going to Expand?? To be able to accommodate, another 200!!  Anybody want to 'reserve' a place
If muslim people got that sort of treatment -- There would be Total Eruptions --I am Not just Angry???
I simply wonder How some of OUR People can be 'Traitors' against their own kind I wonder when This problem will be put right??  Mr. Virgil Taylor should be re instated, with a higher wage, plus Damages!! Taken to the highest court!!