PLANS to shut three day centres for people with learning disabilities look set to go ahead if cabinet members approve recommendations today.

They will be asked to approve the closure of Darracott Day Centre in Pokesdown by the end of September and Malvern Day Centre in Moordown by December.

Members will also make a decision on the proposed closure of Horizons Day Centre in West Howe with the current service to be transferred to the new community outreach service.

Care bosses in Bournemouth say the move will save £495,000 a year.

In April the Daily Echo reported Malvern Day Centre was given a stay of execution after the council were handed an “emotional” report into how devastated people feel.

Bournemouth council agreed it would not close unless officers could produce a report to say it was no longer financially viable.

Chris Wakefield, who is a Conservative councillor but is speaking on behalf of the Bournemouth branch of the Local Involvement Networks (LINks), will be addressing cabinet this morning.

“I will be asking them to stick to what they said originally and wait until it no longer becomes financially viable and then make a decision,” he said.

He said the health scrutiny panel recently objected to the closure of Malvern and added it would be “interesting” to see if the cabinet listened to the panel or went against them.

He added: “People need to be given choice about where they want to go and not be dictated to.”

Mr Wakefield compiled a 99-page report speaking to service users.

A Horizons day centre user said: “I can’t be at home all day. It makes me cry.”