Parents and carers vow to fight on to keep Wirral’s day centres open

Feb 20 2013 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

PARENTS and carers have vowed to fight on to keep all Wirral day centres open.

Either Eastham, Moreton or Heswall will close under the council’s budget proposals.

More than 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for the centres to stay open.

Ann McGreal, of Moreton, whose daughter Nicola, 32, attends Moreton day centre four days a week, said parents were angry and upset. She said: “We came home after the council meeting and Nicola asked if the centre was going to close but we don’t know what will happen. The longer this goes on, the more distress it causes.”

Chris Beyga , head of delivery for adult social services, said 1,200 people were using day centres in 2004 compared to 666 today.

Wirral Council leader Phil Davies said: “These options are in no way designed to remove respite or day care services from vulnerable people. While the building a service is delivered from may change, the standard of that service will be absolutely maintained, if not improved.”