County cuts hit elderly and vulnerable

12.00.00am GMT Tue 28th Feb 2006

Cllr Maurice Skilton at Pembury Road Day Care Centre

Elderly and vulnerable people are set to suffer as the Conservative County Council has announced a series of savage cuts to local services.

In Eastbourne, the Pembury Road Day Centre is set to close. Many elderly people who currently use the centre will be left with nowhere to go. Mencap, Independent Living scheme for the Blind and many other important local organisations are also set to suffer cuts.

Cllr Maurice Skilton said, "As usual the Conservatives just do not care. The Lib Dems on East Sussex County Council put forward a scheme which would result in these facilities remaining with, just a few pence increase in Tax - The Tories did not want to know."

Other services to be cut by the Conservative Council include pavement repairs and social care.

Despite these cuts, Council Tax is still rising by DOUBLE the rate of inflation this year despite Conservative promises to keep increases down.

Cllr Maurice Skilton added, "Instead of tackling waste at the county, the Conservatives seem to prefer cutting services for the vulnerable."