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Jean Farthing says she has lots of friends at Marden Court

PENSIONERS are being forced out of a Calne day centre by bosses who want to bus them to Devizes.

The management at Marden Court Day Centre, in Castle Street, have told 11 elderly users they will have to travel more than an hour to Devizes for support and friendship.

The ruling only applies to the users who are subsidised by Wiltshire County Council.

The centre offers quizzes, meals, and card games to elderly people in Calne who would otherwise be left alone at home. Marden Court, which is owned by St John's Care Trust, has a contract with Wiltshire County Council to provide day care for pensioners in Calne.

A member of staff said the 11 elderly people who are moved would be taken to a centre owned by St John's.

User Eva (Jean) Farthing, 80, of Wyvern Avenue, Calne, said it will be impossible for her to get the bus into Devizes.

Mrs Farthing, who has visited Marden Court for nine years, said: I can't go on the bus to Devizes and I have already told them if this happens I won't go.

I don't want to go to a place full of people I don't know. I like Marden Court because it is quiet and all my friends go there.'' Mrs Farthing, who pays £5.50 per day to go to Marden Court, would be forced to pay £20 a day to go to the centre without the county council subsidy. St John's operations manager Colin Titcome refused to comment.

District and town councillor Tony Trotman said he is working with the care trust to make sure each user's case is considered.

Coun Trotman, whose 90-year-old mother uses the centre, said: I have had some reassurance from the care trust all visitors will be interviewed to see their suitability for travelling. But apparently those who do stay will not be offered the same facilities as they are used to.

Marden Court is a superb facility but it has been around for a long time and I know people are waiting to get in. I would love to see a proper facility in Calne for the elderly but the future of care is changing.'' A council spokesman said: One of the main reasons Wiltshire County Council is undertaking this review is that a number of the existing day centres, which are in residential homes, are no longer appropriate for hosting daytime activities for people who are not residents of these homes.

This is because the rooms, such as lounges, cannot be fully used by the homes' residents while the services are being provided.'' John Thomson, cabinet member for community services, said: I can assure people no changes will be made without their agreement and no service will be withdrawn without a new and improved service being in place first.''

11:44am Thursday 10th April 2008

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