IT WAS good to see the recent reports in the Oxford Mail about the Didcot, Bicester and Chipping Norton day centres campaigning to protect their services.

We at the Shotover – now Options – centre are equally fearful of Oxfordshire County Council’s suggestion of volunteers taking over responsibility for running its day centres.

All the present users agree that the present organisation is superb. Why change it?

We in Oxford have experience of the ideas of the county council cabinet.

The Willows Centre was closed and merged with Shotover to increase the membership at Shotover.

Eventually, gradually, the number of members decreased and then we moved from our home of many years – well, we were on a very valuable development site – to, would you believe, a comfortable place but smaller, restricting the membership and lengthening the waiting list, denying a place for so many needy people.

It is customary to blame the previous government for failures, but not this time.

It was you, John Jackson, director of social services, you did it.

Now please listen to us. No more crazy ideas for Oxford from the Oxfordshire county cabinet.

All this in the Prime Minister’s home county as well.

John Hewer (96 years old), New Cross Road, Headington, Oxford