MAYOR John Dal Broi has refuted claims made by the head of the Red Cross Blood Service that plans are being hashed out for Griffith's new mobile blood bank.
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In a letter to member for Murrumbidgee Adrian Piccoli, NSW/ACT Donor Services manager Steven Eldridge said the Red Cross was working with Griffith council on the best location to base the blood bank bus once every three weeks.
"The Blood Service had investigated relocating to a new site, but it is not justifiable to spend $1.5 million of taxpayers' money to fit out a new site in an area with declining donor numbers, especially when we have a state-of-the-art Mobile Donor Centre that is available to visit Griffith and continue collecting blood from willing donors," Mr Eldridge wrote to Mr Piccoli.
"We are currently working with the local council to determine a suitable site, and we are very excited that after contacting all donors, the first day of collection, scheduled on June 12, is fully-booked."
In stark contrast, mayor Dal Broi said he hadn't heard from the Red Cross since the shock decision to close the blood donor centre and urged the charity to contact him immediately.
"The Red Cross Blood Service has made initial contact with council staff in relation to sites they wished to park the bus, but I've asked staff to hold off until they explain what they're up to.
"I contacted them more than two weeks ago and it's just been total silence, I haven't received any response to the email.
"I know a letter co-signed by myself and protest campaign organiser Brian Sainty went to the CEO last Thursday and I look forward to a response, otherwise I think I'm going to have to double my efforts."
A spokeswoman from the Red Cross Blood Service confirmed the not-for-profit organisation had received the co-signed letter formulated at a rally of roughly 500 donors protesting the closure.
Mr Eldridge was not available for comment.