Protest over Shrewsbury day care centre closure plan
- Published
The centre is due to shut in March
Campaigners trying to prevent a Shropshire day care centre from closing have staged a protest.
A petition over the Grange centre in Harlescott, Shrewsbury, has more than 1,000 signatures, the Shropshire Cares Campaign group said.
Shropshire Council said demand for such centres would fall due to personalised budgets, with people making their own choices about services.
The protest was held outside Shirehall in Shrewsbury.
The centre is due to shut in March.
'Most excluded'
Nicky Clark, from the campaign group, said: "I think if the council realises just how strongly the public feel about the closure of the Grange day care centre, they might actually rethink their decision."
Tony Johnson, from the Mencap community development team in Shropshire, said people with a learning disability were "already the most excluded".
He said: "They have greater health needs and Mencap firmly believe that cuts in services to people with learning disabilities, their families and carers is a false economy.
"[That is] because the statutory services will have to pick up the tab in the long term, if not the medium term."
Conservative-controlled Shropshire Council said there would continue to be services and support for all those currently at the Grange.
Stephen Chandler, assistant director for adult social care, said: "This is a really challenging time for all managers of adult social care across the [country] and Shropshire's no different.
"The challenge for us today is to ensure that any changes that are necessary as a consequence of the funding are managed as sensitively as possible."