OXFORDSHIRE County Council needs to save money, so how do they do this?

They are proposing to close down day centres for the disabled.

I attend one of these centres, it is a very small one, run for 18 clients over three days a week.

The staff consist of three full-time people and the rest are volunteers.

Those three permanent staff do everything, even the cleaning. We have transport for those who find it difficult to get to Burcot and this is run by a volunteer or one of the permanent staff.

We are provided with a hot two-course meal and we have two coffee breaks and all this for £10 per day (the transport costs a little more).

The savings by the council must be minimal, but for the clients who go to this day centre, keeping it open is essential.

Most of the clients live on their own. Closing will mean that they will become more isolated, which could result in more cases of depression, costing more to the NHS, which in itself is badly in need of money.

Is the small amount saved worth it?

ROSEMARY WATERS

The Willows,

Culham