Day centre to close as part of Wolverhampton council cuts

Oxley Day Centre has been deemed 'not fit for purpose'. Its closure will save Wolverhampton council more than £500,000.

A consultation about the scheme has been completed and the plans approved by the council's decision-making cabinet. The site on Probert Road, which also includes Oxley Moor House, will now be shut down.

However, none of the 25 jobs or services will be lost, with the authority transferring them to other community venues across the city.

Adults services boss, Councillor Elias Mattu said: "These proposals have been put forward to help meet the council's duties under the new Care Act which require councils to give people greater control over the services they use and offer services with provide the sort of help and support people need to remain independent for longer.

"Under these proposals, we are seeking to re-provide the Support Plus service currently provided at Oxley Day Centre at other venues around the city.

"Oxley Day Centre is an old-style centre and no longer fit for purpose, and so the Support Plus service would be transferred to newer, more modern venues around the city, such as Action for Independence, the Brickkiln Centre, Neil Dougherty Centre, Pendeford Community Hub and Blakenhall Healthy Living Centre.

"Staff currently based at Oxley Day Centre would be relocated to provide the new services at other locations in the community."

The Pathways to Work site in Steel Drive, Bushbury, will also close and the adult short breaks services which are currently delivered at Ernest Bold and Swan Bank sites will be merged and delivered from the council-owned Ernest site in Wolverhampton Street, Bilston.

The proposals will save the authority £563,000 in total.