Whitchurch OAP day centre a cutbacks casualty

Use of a £1.5 million purpose-built day centre for elderly people in north Shropshire is to be scaled back because of massive public spending cuts.

The Bradbury Day Centre in Whitchurch is to close on Saturdays and bank holidays, starting in January.

Currently the centre is open six days a week, but Shropshire Council says it can no longer afford to operate the centre at weekends, when staff costs are higher.

Under the proposals, the centre, which is beside Whitchurch Community Hospital, would remain open on weekdays.

Supporters of the centre today said the move was "very sad".

Margaret Hiles, chairman of the Friends of Bradbury Day Centre, said: "I think it's very sad.

"The people who use the centre really love it and it's always full except on Saturdays.

"I think that's why they want to close it on Saturdays, because they have to pay staff time-and-a-half and there are massive public spending cuts being made across the country."

About 20 people use the centre each weekday, and about 15 on Saturdays.

It offers a range of social and health services including a bathing service, laundry service, hairdressing service and access to allied professional services.