A FORMER charity worker involved in setting up a handyman service for the elderly says he is “disgusted” and “ashamed” that Poole council axe its funding.

As previously reported, Borough of Poole decided to cut its subsidy for the East Boro Handy Van service.

It cited the “cost implications” of subsidising the service, which it commissioned with Bournemouth in 2008 to take care of small jobs with no labour charge.

Dennis Blackler, 85, former chairman of Age Concern Poole, was instrumental in setting up the service.

He said of the decision: “It’s absolutely disgusting.”

He understood the amount of money involved was £17,000, which he said was substantially less than some senior councillors claim in allowances.

“We had a scheme set up with the fire service as well and this was one I was very proud of because we know so many people in the borough who are elderly and can’t even change a light bulb. How do they do that now?” he said.

“With a handy man they could make a local call and someone would come out and do the most useful jobs.”

He said the scheme prevented people from attempting strenuous jobs and injuring themselves. “The point is it kept people out of hospital,” he said.

“I was ashamed of our council because East Boro are a wonderful charity,” Mr Blackler said.

He was also concerned about who might be asked to do jobs instead. “They might find somebody and it could be a cowboy. You have to be very careful who you let in your house,” he added.

The Daily Echo recently reported Oakdale woman Brenda Boyd’s disgust at finding out the service had been cut.

“Could I put a washer on a tap? No I couldn't. Could I get up and change a lightbulb? No, because I cannot climb a stepladder,” she said.

"I'm quite lucky because I have a daughter who will do it for me, but many older people have no children or their children live elsewhere, or have have even died.”

Poole council has said it will be “signposting to similar services provided by national charities”.

A statement said: "Borough of Poole and Bournemouth Borough Council had jointly commissioned East Borough Housing to deliver a ‘Handy Van Service’ since 2008.

"The contract came to an end on September 30 this year and following a review of the service, Borough of Poole decided not to continue funding the provision of the service due to the cost implications."