Disabled care centre users and their carers are concerned with Kingston Council’s new plans for day care when their centre is closed.

The proposals are being discussed at a meeting tonight.

Kingston Council announced plans in January to close the Causeway and Crescent Centre in New Malden, which provides for people with learning and physical disabilities, as part of a swathe of budget cuts.

The council has now proposed to transfer day services for people with physical disabilities to the Newent Resource Centre in Surbiton.

People with learning disabilities will have no permanent base but will use drop-in care services provided by Home Farm Trust, Kingston Work Activities Service, and others. The drop-in services will be funded through a personal budget system, which some carers believe may not be enough to provide the same level and quantity of care as the Causeway.

Sue Taylor has a 23-year-old son with cerebral palsy and severe learning disabilities.

She said: “It’s absolutely disgraceful. My son was settled, safe and happy and could go there five days a week which he loved.

“I don’t know what he’s going to do because there will be a drop in centre but that’s not any good for him because he can’t go out on his own and it will eat into the budget that they say we are going to get.”

Gerda Brennen, whose 31 year-old-son uses the centre, said: “I am concerned about the transport and escorts and I am not keen to use the personal budget system. “It costs £15 a day for Harry to go to Stud Farm and I don’t know if that will be covered.

“The system basically means opening up a bank account which they don’t know how to do. It’s just insane.”

The council said the centre, which can serve up to 120 people, now only has 20 visitors a day and is falling into disrepair, with money being spent on maintenance rather than services.

Councillor David Fraser said: “The council has withdrawn its service so there is less choice, not more.

“Will the council give them sufficient funds for care five days a week, it’s a big question mark.”

Both the Crescent and causeway Centres are due to shut by October 31.

The future of the Cocks Crescent site will be considered at a meeting in September.