An accessibility group chairman says he is "shocked and hurt" by the Gravesham Council leader’s decision to slash support from the disability-focused group.
Councillor John Burden wants to replace the Gravesham’s Accessibility Group (GAG)’s chairman of 14 years, former councillor Wayne Busbridge, with a cabinet member.
The leader says if GAG does not meet his demands, the forum will no longer be able to use the council’s meeting rooms or win funding from the council.
Mr Busbridge, 49, who is blind, has described the experience of Councillor Burden severing the working relationship as "sticking the knife in".
Coun Burden told News Shopper: "The group does not represent the people who need to be represented, such as the disabled and those with access issues.
"(The chair) doesn’t even live in the borough anymore.
"We will have it chaired by someone from the council’s cabinet, so the group can influence the council.
"It’s not about disability, it’s about accessibility.
"I’m actually dyslexic which is a legally recognised disability."
Wimbledon-based Wayne Busbridge said GAG will carry on without making Councillor Burden’s changes.
He told News Shopper: "The bit that hurts is the withdrawal of the working relationship- that's the sticking of the knife in.
"But how could a cabinet member, as chairman, speak up to the council and say ‘we have to do things differently’?
"I'm shocked it has come to this.
"I was born and bred in Gravesham, was a councillor there and helped set up the group so I do know what I’m talking about."
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