DAY centres in Montgomeryshire provide a vital service and must stay open, according to local Assembly Member Russell George.

Mr George visited three day centres this week.

On Monday, he visited Maesywennol in Llanidloes and Crossroads in Machynlleth, and the Park Street Day Centre in Newtown on Tuesday, alongside Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Services, Suzy Davies AM.

The visits come ahead of Powys County Council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday when an outcome on the future of day centres is expected to be decided.

In advance of his visits, Mr George said: “There is deep-seated concern at the detrimental impact which the potential closure of day centres could have on some of the most vulnerable residents in our community."

Mr George attended a public meeting on 25 October, with more than 150 people in attendance, to hear about plans contained within Powys County Council’s consultation on Day Time Activities for Older People, which closed on 9 November.

Mr George responded to the consultation and added: “I firmly believe that no day centre should be closed until the local health board has carried out a full impact assessment on what the consequences will be on other health services in Powys, including the extra demand that would be then likely to be placed on GP practices.”

See this week’s Machynlleth & Llanidloes edition for the full story, in shops and online now