CAMPAIGNERS demonstrating against the closure of council-run adult day care centres in Pembrokeshire have accused the local authority of “putting pounds before people”.

A demonstration was held outside County Hall in Haverfordwest, urging Pembrokeshire County Council to reconsider the proposed cutbacks affecting the Anchorage centre in Pembroke Dock, the Lee Davies Day centre in Narberth, and the Bro Preseli Day centre in Crymych.

The protest drew users of the centres and their families, many of whom voiced concerns over the impact of potential closures. Among the demonstrators was Georgina Knowles from Templeton, whose daughter Sapphire, 28, attends the Bro Preseli centre.

“She loves it there,” Ms. Knowles said. “It’s brilliant and the only centre in Pembrokeshire suitable for her, with all the equipment and qualified staff that she needs. They’ve told us it’s going to be open until April, and they’re talking about a social enterprise taking it over, but we’re keen on seeing the council continue to run it. Please don’t close it down. We’ve been very stressed.”

Pete Welsh, 73, from Pembroke Dock, whose daughter Abi, 32, has been attending the Anchorage centre for 14 years, echoed these sentiments. “Living with somebody with additional learning needs is a 24/7 job,” he said. “So it’s both a lifeline and a form of respite for us as well.”

Mr. Welsh criticised the council, claiming it was “putting pounds before people, not least vulnerable people at that who can’t speak up for themselves”. He called for the authority to reverse its decision, alleging there had been no consultation with families and service users.

Kate Scourfield, who introduced the petition to maintain day centres at the Lee Davies centre in Narberth and Crymych, expressed her “grave reservations” about possible alternative service delivery models being considered.

In response, Tessa Hodgson, the council’s cabinet member for social care, assured that no changes would be made to adult day care centres until September, when the cabinet meets to discuss the issue. She highlighted that the Anchorage centre was in a poor state of repair, requiring maintenance work totalling £370,000.

Ms. Hodgson explained that the decision to opt for a 12.5% council tax rise, rather than a 16.3% rise, necessitated savings. She noted that numbers using the Anchorage centre had declined from 35 to 22 since the Covid pandemic, and the authority was striving to maintain frontline services amidst a “dire financial picture”.

She further added that additional funding had been secured to keep the Lee Davies centre in Narberth open until next spring, while discussions were ongoing about the potential takeover of the Bro Preseli centre by a social enterprise. No final decisions will be made about the three centres until the matter is reviewed by the cabinet in December.

Council Leader Jon Harvey acknowledged the tough choices facing the authority, citing a funding gap of £32.3m for the current financial year (2024-5).

Ms. Hodgson was not available for an interview, and the council has been asked to comment on the matter.

More than 3,000 people have signed online petitions calling for services to be retained at the three sites, underscoring the community’s determination to safeguard these essential facilities.

(Cover image: BBC Wales)