A PENSIONER has told how she fears her husband will have to move into a home if Wallingford’s day centre for the elderly closes.

The day centre, officially known as Wallingford Health and Wellbeing Centre, is under threat of closure due to county council cuts.

Each day about 30 pensioners use the centre in Millington Road but it could be closed as the council attempts to find the latest savings, totalling £50 million.

The council would save £3 million by closing seven health and wellbeing centres, including the one in Wallingford, and a final decision on budget cuts is due early next year.

Jean Emerson, 73, of St George’s Road, said the centre was a lifeline because her husband Harry Emerson, 76, had been diagnosed with a neurological complaint, cerebellar ataxia, which affects his mobility, coordination and speech.

Mrs Emerson said: “Usually Harry goes to the day centre at about 9am and comes home between 2pm and 5.30pm.

“He has been going to the day centre for the past 11 years and I could not carry on without the centre’s support.

“Without the day centre my husband would have to go into permanent care.

“Staff at the centre give Harry support and going there gives him the motivation to get dressed in the morning.

“I’m extremely worried the centre will close – I’m losing sleep over this.”

Sandy Tinson, a spokesman for the Friends of Wallingford Day Centre, said the closure would have a devastating effect on elderly residents in the area.

Mrs Tinson, a retired nurse, from Wallingford, said: “We are particularly concerned about the impact any funding cuts would have on the 65-plus clients and their carers.

“The centre provides a caring and supportive environment for up to 30 people aged 55 to 99 each day.

“Fifty per cent of the clients have some form of dementia as well.

“They have a cooked meal, and participate in a range of activities and therapies during the day.

“The Friends were established to raise funds for activities not covered by county council funding.

“We are anxious that the local community should be made aware of the impact funding cuts would have on this extremely valuable local resource.”

Independent county councillor for Wallingford and town mayor Lynda Atkins said the day centre was a vital service for the elderly in the area.

She added: “The centre means the elderly have a social life and they are not isolated at home all day.

“If the centre shuts the people who go there could become ill because they are isolated, and that becomes a knock-on cost for the health service, or adult social care if people need to go into homes.

“These day centres enable the elderly to live independently for much longer.”

Judith Heathcoat, the county council’s cabinet member for adult social care, was unavailable for comment.

A consultation on the cuts will close on November 30 and feedback is set to be discussed at a scrutiny meeting of councillors on December 17.

To have your say visit consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk.