THE manger of a care centre under the threat of closure due to council funding cuts has asked for proposals to be reconsidered.

East Radnorshire Day Centre, in Presteigne, could be closed as early as next year if plans to completely cut its funding are approved.

The centre which is ran as a charity currently receives £122,480 a year from Powys County Council (PCC), but is one of 10 in the county under the threat of losing all its funding.

A consultation is currently underway in which two of the three options would see the centre lose all its funding.

The first option would implement no change, the second would see the immediate withdrawal of funding next financial year and the third would see a phased withdrawal to be completed by March 2019.

Care Centre Manager Beverley Baynham said that the proposals are 'unfair' and urges for a fourth option should be considered.

"All of the other day centres which are ran by the council are costing a lot more money than ours," said Mrs Baynham.

"The big thing really is that the council have given Welshpool day care centre a seven year contract for £115,000 funding a year.

"We have started a petition asking that all of the day centres are offered the same amount of funding.

"If all the care centres were given £115,000 a year then the council will save half their budget. We appreciate that the council needs to save money but there needs to be a fair fourth option."

East Radnorshire Day Centre currently has 50 users of which many come from inside the Herefordshire border.

The centre which is open five days a week employs 15 staff members, equivalent to seven full-time jobs.

Mrs Baynham fears that the centre might be forced to close if funding is completely withdrawn affecting those users and their families.

She added: "If we loose the funding from the council then it is unlikely that day care as it is now will be able to continue.

"I would like to think it wouldn't close but there is a huge probability that it would. It would have a dramatic effect on our service.

"Coming here twice a week gives the carers- which are often family members- a break which is really quite important.

"Having somebody come to their house for a few hours won't allow their carer to go out for the day like they can now."

Cllr Stephen Hayes, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “We realise that the questionnaire is not the most appropriate method for engaging with all people and that is why the council is holding meetings with service users, their families and carers to hear their views in person.

“It’s also important to repeat that we welcome people’s comments in any form, so if you do not wish to fill in the questionnaire, please write to us at County Hall or email us at consultation@powys.gov.uk if you’d prefer."

The consultation period closes on November 9.

Petitions against the proposed changes can also be found in shops around Presteigne and Shobdon.

An online petition against the proposals is also available at: www.change.org/p/county-councillor-stephen-hayes-save-east-radnorshire-day-centre.