Cabinet votes to close day centres (From Worcester News)

Cabinet votes to close day centres

11:45am Friday 8th February 2008 in News By Jack Blanchard

TWO day centres for people with learning difficulties in South Worcestershire are to be closed, against the strong wishes of the disabled users and their families.

Worcestershire County Council's Conservative cabinet today voted unanimously to close the Pershore Day Centre in Station Road and the Perryfields Day Centre in Worcester.

The severely disabled users of both will now be sent to other day centres in Worcester and Evesham.

The closure of the Pershore centre has caused particular outcry, with more than 4,500 residents signing a petition demanding it stay open.

The council's director of adult and community services Eddie Clarke told the meeting the £85,000 savings the council expects to make by closing Pershore was "one factor" behind the decision, but insisted moving the disabled users to less specialist centres would ultimately be to their long-term benefit.