WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has reassured residents that service users will not be left to their own devices following the relocation of services from Kingfields Day Centre in the town.

The lead commissioner for learning disability services at Worcestershire County Council, Elaine Carolan, said: “A decision to relocate day care services from Kingfields Day Centre was approved on February 23, 2015 as part of a wider county council review of services which began in 2011. The majority of users at Kingfields, 18 in total, will instead go to newly refurbished facilities provided for them at Droitwich Library run through the Connect service.

“The library offers a more central location which was identified as important to service users during the consultation period. The type of service which is being delivered will not change. It’s the location that will change.

“In terms of funding individuals will access the service with their personal budget which is reviewed on an annual basis or more often should their needs change. Most of the service users had already been attending the library on an ad hoc basis. There’s a lot of enthusiasm from service users and their carers about the new opportunities and experiences that will be available there.

“The service users with more specialised needs are being given the choice of attending other facilities which cater for people with severe disabilities such as the Three Springs Centre at Pershore, The Wendrom Centre at Bromsgrove and Cherry Orchard in Worcester.

“Transfer of the day services from Kingfields will be gradual and we are working with each service user and their carers to ensure that their needs can be met.

“Indeed the planned transfer of services which were originally due to take place in 2014, were delayed to allow more time for in depth consultation with service users and their carers. During the consultations it was clearly identified that the service users wanted reassurance that they would be able to maintain friendships that they had developed over many years we have therefore ensured that any change of location will facilitate this.

“It’s envisaged that the service users will not be relocated until October or November 2015 after which time the county council will consider the future use of the Kingfields building.”

The decision comes only weeks after a protest against the closure of the Snax on Trax kiosk at Droitwich Railway Station which took on a number of volunteers from the day centre.