THE future of day services for vulnerable and older people in Newport will go out to consultation, councillors agreed yesterday, despite massive opposition from campaigners.

A report presented to Newport council’s cabinet at yesterday’s meeting recommended councillors agree in principle to transform the provision of day services in Newport, including re-allocating services currently provided at Ladyhill Day Centre elsewhere in the city, and to consult with service users and their families.

Ladyhill Day Centre, in Alway, is used by 138 of the city’s most vulnerable residents including dementia sufferers, wheelchair users and the elderly, and costs the council £543,000 a year to run, but the centre needs £1million of repairs.

Service users at the centre fear other centres will not have the facilities for all users and fear being split up from friends they have made at Ladyhill. Residents and local councillors are backing a campaign to save it.

The report details how day services in Newport could be provided more effectively and closer to people’s homes.

It states people with dementia will be able to receive care from support units at Spring Gardens in Pill and Hillside in the Gaer.

Service users with complex physical needs would be catered for under proposals to expand and develop existing facilities at Parklands Residential Home in Malpas.

Stuart Greenwell, Newport council’s care and customers corporate director, said each service user at Ladyhill would be reassessed and their needs would be catered for at another location in Newport, but no one would be left out.

Cabinet chairman, Cllr Matthew Evans said: “We have a duty to ensure that all service users needs are met. Whatever decision is taken, we clearly have an obligation to ensure they get the care they need.”

Councillors agreed to go out to consultation with service users and families on the proposals and asked for a further report to be discussed in June before any decision is made.

They also approved proposals to start the process to develop a scheme for the refurbishment of Parklands Residential Home.