Future of Whitchurch's day care centre in balance

The Bradbury Day Centre in Claypit Street, Whitchurch, is used by elderly residents and a crunch meeting has been held to thrash out ideas for the future – but no decision has been made. Now, further meetings will be held.

Shropshire Councillors Gerald Dakin and Peggy Mullock, who is mayor of Whitchurch, said it was not yet known what would happen to the centre.

Councillor Mullock said: "Current activity, as well as the future of the Bradbury Day Centre, was discussed at a meeting.

"Shropshire councillors discussed opportunities for new ways of working to ensure the long term sustainability of the centre and specifically its role in supporting the health and well-being for older people.

"It was agreed to hold a wider visioning event in mid-January 2013, where other key organisations will come together to help shape a way forward for Bradbury Day Centre to improve and enhance the services on offer for the people in Whitchurch and the surrounding hinterland."

And Councillor Dakin added: "We need to work together on this, to make this a success, it is a service we can't afford to lose.

"It is doing a good job and we want to keep it going."

The centre is now open Monday to Friday and Margaret Hiles, chairman of the Bradbury Day centre and the Bradbury Trust, said she believed it would stay open.

She said: "It has been a super place for many years. Everyone has thoroughly enjoyed it.

"The council can't continue to run it because they haven't got the money, that is what it all boils down to.

"I should be so upset if they closed it, but I don't think they will and I believe something will come of it. There are all sorts of ideas.

"Maybe someone will think it is a good idea and get involved."