DAY centres which cater for people with learning disabilites might be closed down, giving rise to fears users will have nothing to do and become lonely.

About 135 people living in full-time residential care – 63 are in the north of the county, 72 in the south – might also have their access to day centres changed because the council says it is effectively paying for the same service twice.

Meanwhile, people who receive £49.85 a week in higher rate disability living allowance mobility benefit might have support taken away as Worcestershire County Council seeks to trim its annual £2.2 million learning disability transport bill.

The council, which is looking to save up to £70 million by 2015 at a cost of more than 1,000 jobs, is now consulting on the possible changes, which it says will save about £1.1 million while giving people more independence, access to community facilities and employment opportunities.

At a meeting of the council’s cabinet Ruby Walker, co-chairman of SpeakEasy N.O.W, a self-help organisation for people with learning disabilities across the county, said: “With the budget cuts day centres might be closing down and we will then have nothing to do and we will all end up staying at home.

“This will make us lonely. We will have no chance to meet up with others. Our lives will be boring.

“We can’t keep going into town. We will miss our friends.”

At the moment 579 people with learning disabilities use 30 day centres across Worcestershire.

After the meeting a council spokesman confirmed the number of centres could be reduced, but some services for those with more complex disabilities and needs are likely to be maintained.

Miss Walker, of Malvern, said she is very worried about what the future holds for SpeakEasy N.O.W and its members, especially given forthcoming changes to the concessionary fare bus pass scheme and a potential increase in service charges.

“We want you to think about the needs of people with learning disabilities when you decide on the budget,” she said.

In a statement issued after the meeting Councillor Philip Gretton, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: “We understand that any proposed changes to important services that people rely on can cause concern and we also recognise that day centres are safe places where people can go to socialise and chat to friends while they also offer important respite for carers.

"This consultation is really about finding out where people think improvements can be made so that on top of the benefits day centre services currently provide much greater choice can be offered.”

Proposals will be sent back to cabinet in the summer.