Half of Glasgow�s specialist day centres for adults with learning disabilities are expected to close as part of a reform of social services.

Half of Glasgow's specialist day centres for adults with learning disabilities are expected to close as part of a reform of social services.

If the plan goes ahead, it would reduce the number of dedicated units across the city from 10 to five over the next 18 months, with two smaller satellite centres also facing closure.

Estimates of the number of adults with a range of learning disabilities who would be affected by the potential cuts range between 870 and 1600.

The move is part of the reconfiguration of health and social services in Glasgow into five geographic areas across the city, with senior council sources insisting it "should come as no surprise".

They also claim the reform is in its early stages and that the move should not be seen in isolation.

But opposition politicians and social care staff have described it as "brutal management" where bureaucracy and finance are the over-riding considerations.

They also point to the city council shutting all but one of its dedicated daycare centres for people with physical disabilities, the scrapping of the 30-year tradition of awarding £1a week to hundreds of adults with learning disabilities attending daycare centres and closure of two respite care centres.

Union sources claim the authority's two most senior officials, chief executive George Black and solicitor Ian Drummond, announced that reduction of day centres was being explored during talks on possible strike action by carers working within the section.

Some 270 staff, all members of Unison, have been balloted for industrial action over their downgrading during the council's equal pay and benefits review, with the expectation they will vote for a strike.

According to Unison, some of its members, already on some of the lowest pay grades within the authority, have already lost between £3000 and £6000.

As well as the continuing concerns over their pay, pensions and status, staff have expressed fears over the impact of any closures on one of the council's most vulnerable client groups as well as their own futures.

The present centres are in Dalmarnock, Cardonald, Calton, Springburn, two in the Maryhill area, Summerston, Riddrie, Knightswood and Toryglen, with satellites in Drumchapel and Pollok.

One parent who contacted The Herald told how she was fearful of the news filtering down to her 35-year-old daughter because of the upset it could cause. She added: "As they say, you can judge a society by how it looks after its most vulnerable. I don't think our children even came into the equation here.

"I've fought for 35 years so my daughter and I can have some sort of life and I feel now we're just going backwards, particularly in the past year."

Phil Greene is the council's opposition spokesman on social care and was a social work professional for 25 years.

The SNP councillor said: "I'm absolutely aghast at this, at what the authority wants to do and why no-one has been informed. We need more daycare centres, not less. They are already full to bursting."

Sam McCartney, of Unison, added: "The council is again shirking its responsibility to the most vulnerable people in the city and is misleading the public."

Last night senior council sources dismissed Unison's strike proposal as part of an orchestrated campaign and accused it of "scare tactics".

A spokesman said: "The best-value review of 2001 and this year's social work inspection agency report make it quite clear that the provision of day care for adults with learning disabilities in Glasgow does not meet the needs of this group of service users.

"Staff have been aware for several years of the need to redesign and improve this service. Any reform will put the needs of service users first and foremost. We are at an extremely early stage in service redesign."