People left “lost and panicked” by Enfield Council’s decision to cut support for deaf services have launched an opposing petition.

The council have cut £43,000 in Supporting People funding to Enfield Disability Action (EDA)’s Deaf Project Service, half of their budget, leaving it with a very uncertain future.

The council are having to make cuts of £56 million by 2020 due to pressures from central government.

Users have said they know they are going to suffer if the cuts are not withdrawn, and are upset over the lack of sympathy.

Hugh McCormack, a board member for EDA who is himself deaf, said they are planning a petition to the council and want to mobilise a campaign to save the service.

He also spoke of a case study showing exactly how important he feels the service is.

He said: “A deaf lady with a young child told us she was feeling ill in her flat, so we suggested she book a GP appointment, but she would have to wait two weeks for one with an interpreter.

“The next day she texted to say she was feeling even worse, so Mary told her to go to the hospital and show the text to say what is wrong.

“It turned out she had a carbon monoxide leak; if she had not got in touch with us again, if she had waited for the GP, she would have died.

“This service, being so easy to communicate with, is not just a support group, it saves lives, and the council want to cut that.”

Rajeswari Gopalakrishnan, who is deaf-blind, said: “It is very difficult to get interpreters already as they need to be physically hands-on with me, how am I supposed to get them if this service closes.

“I know I can come here and ask for help, and get people who are sympathetic, but if there is no personal contact I will not be able to communicate with anyone.

“It makes me feel depressed, I bring things like benefits letters here, they read it and help me with the problem, but now this is being taken away.”

Another user, Jackie McKay, who has been using the service for 20 years, said it has been incredibly helpful, before breaking down in tears at the thought of the closure.

The council have promised to set up remote interpreters – interpreters on personal computer screens at the Civic Centre and major libraries – by January 1 to support deaf people during the cuts.

But deaf services manager Mary White says these are still not up and running.

She said: “We were told in September that funding will cease in April, it was a huge shock.

“We held a meeting with councillors in December, but other than that we were not consulted.

“With the remote interpretation, deaf people have to tell a librarian who will not be able to understand what they need, and then when they get to the remote interpreter, the letter they want interpreted or whatever service they need, will have to be read aloud by someone they have with them – there will be no privacy at all.”

Enfield Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Achilleas Georgiou, said the remote interpreting services have been delayed due to "IT difficulties", and the group would be informed as soon as the services are ready.

He said: “The video interpreting pilot will make Enfield Council services more accessible for the deaf community by supplementing the current access arrangements for people who need British Sign Language interpreting rather than replace it.

"The existing methods of booking an interpreter will continue and so will the monthly drop in service at the Civic Centre.

“We expect to start the pilot of remote interpreting in May when we will test issues such as privacy and facilities.

“However the solution works on mobile devices and can be used in private areas or rooms when required.”