ALMOST all the people who were transferred to a new facility following the closure of Newport’s Ladyhill Day Centre are happy with the new services, a report shows.

An annual report by Newport council’s director of social services, Stewart Greenwell, says 95 per cent of vulnerable people who used the centre were pleased with the alternative services offered at Parklands and those who were less positive still appreciated the range of activities on offer.

One user said the new setting was “more intimate, a smaller group that is less threatening and some people were blossoming,” adding the Parklands centre itself was “bright and modern, with easy access to the grounds,” the report shows.

Ladyhill Day Centre, in Alway, which provided day care facilities for older people was closed last year as part of council plans to balance the 2010/11 budget and revolutionise the way the council provides day-care services.

More than 100 users hit out at the proposals before it closed but the report says evidence shows people appreciate the alternatives provided.

Mr Greenwell said: “Of course there were concerns, but what we always wanted to do was to ensure that we provided as good, if not a better, service elsewhere.”

He added that three of the four clubs which regularly used Ladyhill had now found alternative homes and the council was working with the other to ensure their needs were also met elsewhere.

Ladyhill is empty but the council announced last year the site could be sold for housing following discussions with a number of developers including Seren, Fairlake Properties and Linc Cymru .

These could include housing for older people and supported housing for young people with learning difficulties but no decision has been made.