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The man who is responsible for adult social services in Kent has been to Ashford to talk about the future of day care facilities and to see a project for people with learning disabilities.

Part of the modernisation plans could see the closure of the popular Day Centre or Day Opportunities Service (DOS) in St Stephen’s Walk, South Ashford.

Parents, carers, people with disabilities and groups such as Ashford Mencap object to the closure saying day care is essential to provide respite for parents and stability for the people who use the centre.

Cllr Graham Gibbens (Con) visited Wood N Ware to see window boxes, planters and bird tables being made by people with disabilities.

He then went to the gym at the Stour Centre to see an exercise session.

Cllr Gibbens arrived at 1.30pm as a meeting of Ashford Mencap was taking place half a mile away in International House. He had declined an invitation to the meeting to the disappointed of those that attended who wanted to ask questions about the plans to close the centre and find out more about what will replace it.

Cllr Gibbens has instead agreed to attend a meeting and listen to their concerns next month.

For more on this story and for details of the issues raised at the Mencap meeting, see Thursday’s Kentish Express