A Clydebank pensioner fears she will lose her independence if a local charity is forced to close amid potential budget cuts.

Sadie Cochrane began using the services of Clyde Shopmobility around two and a half years ago after suffering heart and kidney failure.

The 77-year-old explained that the charity - which delivers mobility scooters, manual and powered wheelchairs, as well as providing essential information to residents across West Dunbartonshire – has allowed her to maintain her independence after taking unwell.

However, Clyde Shopmobility’s core funding could be slashed by 25 to 100 per cent when West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) meets on March 6 to set its budget for 2024/25.

Sadie told the Post that if this were to happen and the charity was to close it would leave her “stuck in the house”.

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She said: “This place caters for everybody and their volunteers and workers go above and beyond.

"I took heart failure, kidney failure, and all the rest that goes with it and when I came here for the first time I could hardly walk up from the bus stop.

“I was not long out of hospital and Shopmobility meant I could get a scooter, come in every day if I wanted and go to the shops instead of being tied to Asda.

“It’s not just about the scooters though, it’s about the people. When you walk through that door you get a feeling of home.

“You can’t get a better service anywhere else. Councillors should spend a day in our shoes and they’d find out there are so many people who rely on wheelchairs, scooters, and sticks to get out that won’t be able to anymore.

“If I don’t have this, I don’t have anything. It would leave me stuck in the house, with nowhere to go because I can only get so far, I know my limits then I can’t breathe or my legs give way.

“There’s got to be something done.”

Documents published by WDC state that the local authority currently provides £47,670 of grant support to Clyde Shopmobility.

As the council looks to plug an £8.3 million budget black hole councillors will be asked to consider more than 50 money-saving options including reducing this grant.

On a recent visit to the charity’s hub in Clyde Shopping Centre, board member Margaret Maceira told the Post that even a 25 per cent reduction (approximately £11,917) in funding could shut the shop for good.

Sadie explained that this decision would not only have an impact on her but also on her husband Sandy.

Sandy, who suffers from COPD and asthma, claimed WDC “are putting pounds before people”.

The 74-year-old added: “We found this place when we came to price a mobility scooter then we found out you could hire them which is even better because it means we didn’t have to find a lot of money and it’s been a godsend ever since.

“My wife’s mobility and her independence would be taken away if this place shuts and that’s why we feel so strongly about keeping it here and doing our utmost to defend it.

“In my opinion, instead of shutting them down they [WDC] should be expanding it because it’s a great service and nowhere else offers a service like this.

“I think the council are putting pounds before people.”

A WDC spokesperson said: “This proposal will be considered by elected members to close the council’s £17m budget gap for 2024/25.

“No decision can or will be taken until the budget setting meeting on March 6.”