October 9th, 2024.



The most vulnerable are being asked to shoulder the burden of never-ending austerity, Green County Councillors Wendy Maples and Johnny Denis, claimed at Easy Sussex County Council Meeting on Tuesday.

The Council is looking to close day centres for people with learning difficulties and adult social care facilities, including Lewes’s Phoenix Centre, in a bid to save over £4million to offset part of a £55million hole in funding.

The Phoenix Centre provides essential day care for older people, including local residents with dementia. In providing physical, mental and social activities for clients, the Phoenix Centre also provides much needed respite for carers.

Cllr Wendy Maples explains, “My mother attended the Phoenix Centre when she had dementia and was living with me. I was working full-time and struggled to cope with my caring responsibilities. On the days Mum attended the Phoenix Centre, she’d have lots of stimulation, good company, I knew she was safe, and she would come home happy. Without the Phoenix Centre, we would have been considering a care home, a far more expensive option, that we’d have had to apply for funding for.

“I know it is the same for lots of families, and what is appalling is that East Sussex knows this less expensive care now will save money in the future. Closing the Phoenix Centre will have a direct impact on other, more expensive services, both those provided by East Sussex and our District Councils."

Cllr Johnny Denis 9pictured), added, “We’ve seen this over and over at County. The most vulnerable are asked to shoulder the burden of never-ending austerity. Services that make a difference to the most vulnerable are cut, and spend-to-save initiatives are passed over in favour of short-term savings.

"Of course, 14 years of Tory government cutting local government funding to the bone has been a disaster for local services, but this administration has got to realise that taking from the most disadvantaged makes things worse all round. It is shocking that the consultation sets one day care centre against another. The County Council must think again."