A national charity has been warned that any moves to centralise services away from an Angus “institution” would be an “appalling step”.
Speculation has mounted that Guide Dogs Scotland’s Forfar base could shut as the charity discusses its future in challenging financial conditions.
There are fears that the charity’s only Scottish dog training centre, based in Forfar, will merge with existing “mobility centres” in Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Guide Dogs has had high-level talks over “a proposal to bring together staff in our training schools and mobility teams”. But it insists this would take “a number of years” to bring to fruition and there are “no immediate plans” to relocate services from Forfar.
A spokesman said any potential change that could affect Scottish bases is “an undefined number of years away”.
He added: “Guide Dogs is discussing a proposal for how we will work in the future which will bring greater benefit to both service users and dogs.
“Our aim is to continually assess the way we care for and train the dogs, while allowing us to match and train partnerships in a positive, person-centred way.
“We have discussed a proposal to bring together staff in our training schools and mobility teams, allowing us to combine all aspects of training, puppy development and dog welfare in each location across the UK.
“This way of working is being piloted among four mobility teams in England.
“We will monitor those results throughout 2016 and what we learn will inform if, how and when these proposals progress. This will take a number of years.”
There are around 530 guide dog owners in Scotland, for whom the majority of dogs are trained in Forfar, a specialist training base since 1965.
Around 200 dogs are trained in Forfar each year, costing millions for that part of the operation alone.
As the charity is not given any government grants, costs must be met by volunteer fundraising and initiatives by its own staff.
The amount of money raised in Angus is reckoned in the millions, with perennial campaigners such as Lamont Forbes recognised by the Queen for services to the charity.
Forfar councillor Colin Brown said he was a youngster living in Gallowshade when the charity came to town.
“It’s a Forfar institution,” he said.“The amount of times that local people have put their hands in their pockets over the years is reflected in how well it’s done for 50 years.
“It would be a real blow to the town if that was to change.”
Councillor Glennis Middleton said: “We were delighted when Guide Dogs for the Blind made such a significant investment in Forfar after taking the decision to close Princess Alexandra House.
“I think the expertise that the staff have here is second to none.The whole country knows that these Guide Dogs come from Forfar, wherever they are seen.
“I think it would be an appalling retrograde move if they decide to centralise their services. It would be hugely detrimental to the staff and Forfar.”
In 2002, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association announced the closure of all its residential training centres in the UK, with the loss of about 150 jobs.
The former Princess Alexandra House site, on Forfar’s Dundee Road, remains undeveloped despite a number of plans to build housing there.Comment: Magnificent work at Forfar has to be protectedAs a journalist, I see thousands of stories coming in to The Courier. It takes a lot to knock me sideways, writes Courier night editor Ross MacCallum.
But news that Guide Dogs Scotland are even contemplating closing the Forfar centre has left me stunned. How could they?
The MacCallums are Guide Dog puppy walkers. We are on to our second pup, Jasmin, and our first, Yancy, right, who you may have read about, is currently at Forfar undergoing her training and doing very well. So I have an emotional attachment.
But surely it is universally recognised that Guide Dogs have created something very special at Forfar. The centre has been in the town for 50 years which was celebrated in September with a fun day attended by thousands of supporters.
We have visited the new centre, which only opened back in 2008, on several occasions. It is a magnificent facility full of magnificent people who do great work. The people there care deeply about what they do and I think they work miracles.
It costs £50,000 to train and support each guide dog and the charity receives no government funding.
Running the centre is a difficult business and depends largely on public goodwill. Nothing would erode that goodwill more in central Scotland than closing the Forfar centre.