Bexhill day centre for elderly faces closure

East Sussex County Council (ESCC) proposes to close Bexhill’s Charter Centre (pictured), which is based at Thalia House, London Road. The council has launched consultations on the future of this and two other centres - the Phoenix Centre, Lewes, and Hookstead, Crowborough - which provide adult social care in East Sussex. ESCC says it has put forward these proposals because adult social care is changing and more services are being provided in the independent and voluntary sectors. The Charter Centre is currently open every day including Christmas and bank holidays. It offers day services for older people with physical frailty, including a varied programme of activities and personal services. However ESCC believes the take-up at the centre is low, particularly at weekends, and claims there are many alternative services in the local area. A decision will be made on whether to buy services from the independent and voluntary sector and to close the day services at the Charter Centre. Users, carers, staff and other interested parties have been informed and will be contacted directly for their views. Residents are also being asked to submit their views on how to develop all three centres. The consultation will involve key people, including current users of services, carers, staff and other interested parties. Cllr Bill Bentley, lead member for adult social care, said: “We are always looking at the best way to provide adult social care in East Sussex within our available resources. “Sometimes this means looking at different ways of doing things to ensure that we help as many people as possible in the most effective way. “We now want to ask people what they think of these proposals before making any decisions - so that we can be fully informed of all the different viewpoints.” Reports on the Charter Centre will go to Cabinet in October 2011. Anybody can take part in the consultations, which are running until August 10. For more information visit: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay If members of the public have any queries or want a survey in hard-copy or alternative formats, such as Large Print, Braille or in a different language, contact the Project Team at: ascdps.consultation@eastsussex.gov.uk