Shock move to hit the pockets of the disabled

A West Sussex charity has condemned West Sussex County Council for the planned imposition of charges on physically and mentally disabled adults attending day centres.

It also claims the new charges would cost as much to administer as they would achieve in money collected.

The Friends of the Wrenford Day Centre group has described the plans as an 'amoral attack on the most vulnerable people in society' and is calling on the council to scrap the charges.

The hardest hit by the measures will be parents and carers looking after relatives at home, as most do not charge for rent or utility bills and will now have to contribute extra charges for day services as well as council tax.

West Sussex County Council currently has a budget of 59m for day and learning services and has said the new charges will save it 300,000 a year, affecting 300 people a year. The amount equates to a saving of 20 a week and 1,000 a year for each person.

Full story in West Sussex Gazette, December 29 2005