Concerns have been raised about the closure of a Newtown day centre that is considered a vital lifeline to older and vulnerable adults who would otherwise be left isolated at home.

Normal service at Park Street Day Centre was postponed in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and has been most recently used as a Covid-19 vaccination centre.

Powys Council is carrying out a consultation which ends on Monday, December 11, to gather people's views about day services across the county to better understand what matters to them and work "together towards equal, inclusive and high-quality day opportunities".

Newtown Mayor Councillor John Byrne said Park Day Centre had been "at the heart" of conversations during a consultation event held at Newtown Library last week.

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"I expressed the concerns on how the provision for older residents in Newtown has depleted and how important it was to see such a provision back in place in Newtown as it was a resource that has been sorely missed since it closed its doors due to Covid and never reopened.

“The Day Centre is currently being used by PTHB [Powys Teaching Health Board] and the Town Council along with residents want to see a Day Service provision back in place to service the need in the area.

"The idea of a community hub was mentioned whereby a building could be utilised to accommodate many community projects and be fully inclusive with a multi purpose function."

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Town councillors raised concerns with Powys cabinet member Councillor Sian Cox that the day centre’s closure is based on cost-cutting decisions and there was a lack of communication about the health board's lease being renewed. Cllr Cox said the council was focused on the wellbeing needs of service users and their carers while also dealing with limited budgets and the county's ageing population.

Powys county councillor for Newtown East Joy Jones has urged carers, families, and communities to let the council know through the consultation the importance of keeping the day centre open.

“We have fought for years to stop them closing it and they used lockdown to finally close it down. They left many without a very important service and respite for families,” she said.

For more details and to take part in the online engagement exercise, please visit: https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/day-opportunities-review.

Paper copies of the survey are available to pick up from your local library and once complete you can hand it back to staff at a Powys Library, alternatively you can scan it and email it to haveyoursay@powys.gov.uk.