Reprieve hopes for centre as venue talks begin

Ward Councillor Sue Fazackerley (right) and Centre Manager Pauline Baldwin outside the centre, which is searching for a new home.

The “lifeline” Church Road Day Centre, in St Annes, which cares for people with dementia and other special needs, says it can no longer afford the rent on its current premises and cannot stay there.

But since it was announced that the centre could close and an appeal was launched, two potential new venues have been touted as replacements for the centre, which has been running in the town since 1975.

It currently runs five days a week and takes in members from as far afield as Kirkham and Cleveleys.

Pauline Baldwin, from the centre, said: “We support the people themselves and we support the carers because it gives them a bit of respite.

“There’s absolutely nowhere else for these people to go so their carers wouldn’t get the respite and they do consider us as family here.”

Around 25 people currently attend the centre, mostly aged in their 80s and 90s.

While two potential replacement venues have been found, the locations of which have yet to be announced, Coun Sue Fazackerley, deputy leader of Fylde Council, says the appeal continues, and has called on anyone who may have spare space to come forward and make themselves known.

She said: “This centre is highly important to people.

“I’ve spoken to the people who use it and their relatives, and sometimes it can bring a lifeline for them to have a day where they don’t need their relatives cared for 24/7.

“It would be such a crying shame if it were to close.”

Follow us on twitter @The_Gazette and like our page on facebook to keep up with all the latest news.