Three Buckinghamshire day centres are to close following a council decision on their future.
Buckinghamshire Council has confirmed the closure of three of its adult day centres and the opening of a new respite facility.
The council’s cabinet has agreed to shut the Hillcrest (High Wycombe) and Burnham day centres, and repurpose Buckingham Day Centre.
It has also agreed to retain and upgrade four others: Aylesbury Opportunities Centre, Chesham Day Centre, Spring Valley Day Centre (High Wycombe) and Seeleys House (Beaconsfield).
Councillor Isobel Darby summarised a 40 min debate, saying this had not been an easy consultation but the decision would give certainty.
After the decision was made a member of the public shouted at the councillors ‘Shame on you.’
The plans also include creating a seven-bed overnight respite service at the Aylesbury Opportunities Centre to serve adults under 65 with complex needs, alongside keeping Seeleys House open in the south of the county.
The council expects to save £1.081 million a year by 2028/29, while raising around £1.7m from selling the Burnham and Hillcrest sites.
Buckingham Day Centre will be repurposed as a college facility for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities.
The consultation, which ran from October 2024 to January this year, received 660 responses as well as a petition signed by 2,802 people.
Opposition was strong: only six per cent of respondents backed the council’s original preferred option, with concerns raised about travel times, the impact on carers, and the loss of local support.
In response, the final proposal was altered to keep Seeleys House, which provides both day services and overnight respite.
The report highlights falling usage of council-run centres, from 330 adults in 2020 to 119 by July 2025, with more people opting for community-based provision such as supported employment, volunteering and independent care providers.
As a result of the decision, 43 adults who currently attend the three centres due to close will be moved to other council-run sites or alternative provision.
The council says individual reviews will take place between October and December 2025 to ensure needs are met, with phased moves between February and May 2026 and completion by June 2026.
The council has also agreed to invite community groups to purchase the Burnham day centre, and will defer the public process for Burnham for two months.
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