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Dismay at elderly care centre closure threat Residents warn: ‘It stops them from being lonely’
• Sister Jean Frances (middle) with representatives from Frankham consultants and Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust
New education centre HQ plans for Convent PLANS to build a new education centre in St Mary’s Convent in Challow Road have been revealed. Trustees of the Community
of St Mary the Virgin and the It would be built on the conOxford Diocesan Schools vent’s site. The review is being carried Trust, a potential partner, have commissioned a feasi- out by the Abingdon-based bility study for the centre. Frankham Consultancy Group
over the next three months. The sisters at the convent hope the centre will help continue their involvement with community education.
A SECOND Wantage day centre for the elderly is under threat as Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) attempts to save a total of £342 million by 2020. The Wantage Health and Wellbeing Centre, formerly the Wantage Day Centre in Garston Lane, could be forced to close if the council opts to remove funding to centres across the county as part of £2m cost cutting measures. The Guardian reported last month another Wantage day centre, The October Club for dementia sufferers, could also be forced to close if funding is withdrawn. Grove resident Margaret Fell says her mum Sadie Webb visited the day centre for over 10 years before her death last year. Mrs Fell,69, said: “There’s so many elderly people that use the centre. “It stops from them from being lonely in these dark nights and days. “My mum met all sorts of peo-
By Alex Ballinger ple there. She was very intelligent and she could fi nd people to speak to on her own level. “I don’t want to see it close. It gets elderly people together.” The centre is open from 8.30am until 5pm Mondays to Fridays and runs care services and activities including disabled blue badge assessments, physiotherapy, exercise classes, computer support groups, book clubs and health walks. Wantage community champion Ray Collins said: “This must not be allowed to happen. I have seen fi rst hand what a huge difference this centre makes to all the elderly local people. “Please I beg you, be their voice.” OCC is currently holding a public consultation on ways it can fi nd savings. The council has saved or has plans to save £292m by 2018, but • Continues on page 3
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