Dual-use centre for people with physical and learning disabilities would cost £1.7m

A SHARED day centre for disabled people could be created in Bassetlaw, depending on the outcome of a consultation.

Notts County Council is about to begin consultation on plans to spend £1.7m on a shared day centre for people with physical and learning disabilities in Bassetlaw.

The preferred proposal is to refurbish the Eastgate Centre in Worksop, which is currently used by people with physical disabilities.

The plan is to turn it into a joint facility, shared by people with learning disabilities. The county authority says this is the option that it will now be consulting on.

If the plans are approved, the 37-year-old Greenacre Centre in Worksop will then be closed.

Other options that have been looked at include:

1. Leaving things as they are

2. Redeveloping the Family Centre and keeping Eastgate – £600k

3. Redeveloping the Boundary Centre – £1.6m;

4. Redeveloping the Family Centre site – £1.6m;

5. Building a brand new facility – £2.8m;

6. Redeveloping Greenacre Day Centre – £3m.

Councillor Kevin Rostance, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: "We have worked closely with people who use our day services and their carers, to reach this point.

"We have listened to what people have been saying – in particular about the previous option to redevelop the Boundary Centre, which we know wasn't popular.

"In the past, the preferred option was to develop a brand new building. However, it is difficult to justify the huge cost of this project during these difficult economic times.

"We have experience of redeveloping buildings to create shared day services and the feedback we've had has been excellent. We want to deliver a similar service for people in Bassetlaw."

You can find out more about the proposals and have your say by visiting www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/bassetlawdayservicescentre, by calling 08449 808080, e-mailing customer service.centre@nottscc.gov.uk or writing to Bassetlaw Day Service consultation, Customer Service Centre, PO Box 9320, Nottingham, NG15 5BL.

The consultation closes on August 31 and councillors will make a decision on October 6.