Concern over day centre's future

On Tuesday concerned relatives and carers met with East Sussex County Council to discuss a 'review' into the future of St Nicholas Day Centre in Spital Road.

Around 40 adults with learning disabilities use the center on a daily basis.

Many of carers are angry the county council is considering closing the centre, just six months after a similar service was axed in Newhaven.

Loren Jerome, 20, has severe learning disabilities and is a regular user of the centre.

His mother Jill told the Express: 'It would be really upsetting for the people who use the day centre because many of them have only just started to get used to the place after being moved from Avis Way, Newhaven.

'People with special needs, especially those on the autistic spectrum, don't take too kindly to change and can suffer a great deal.

'The council is looking at how it can save money but this will ruin people's lives.

'St Nicholas is the only place for them to go and it'll awful if it closes.'

A spokeswoman for the county council said public consultation would be carried out before a decision was made about the future of the day centre.

She said: 'St Nicholas' is just one of six day centres which we are looking at as part of the review of all services for older people and adults with learning disabilities provided by East Sussex County County.

' We want to make sure that we can offer high quality services to the growing number of people with learning disabilities in the county.

'We are at the very beginning of a long process of consultation.

'This means we will be asking staff, carers, service users and stakeholders for their views about the centre and how services can be improved.'