Members stand up for Littlehampton’s Tamarisk Centre

The popular day centre for older people is under threat from possible spending cuts as Arun looks to make savings of £2m in its budget from next year.

But with a consultation by Arun on its priorities for the next five years now underway, including a question on the future of the Tamarisk, the centre’s members are making sure their voice is heard with the petition.

It has been organised by the Friends of the Tamarisk group, whose chairman, John Upson, underlined the importance of the Beach Road facility.

He said: “It’s coming across from the council that they want to close it down as soon as possible. My opinion is they should try to keep it open. There’s nowhere else for the elderly people to go.

“People are becoming aware there’s a threat to the centre. They are asking ‘What do we do? Where will we go?’ A lot of people come down every day to meet their friends and socialise. People would really miss it.”

Discussions by Arun councillors over the future of the two centres have raised the question of whether a mobile service for older people could be run alongside them, or instead of them, but Mr Upson said that could never replace the range of activities at the Tamarisk, including arts and crafts, Zumba, ballroom, tap and old time dancing, computer lessons, carpet bowls, computer lessons and even massages.

The Tamarisk, with just over 400 members also has a café and hairdressing facilities.

Littlehampton-based charity Age UK West Sussex took over running the two centres from Arun in 2006, in a 10-year deal reducing the council’s subsidy by £10,000 each year – currently £209,773 for both of them.

Diane Henderson, chief executive of Age UK West Sussex, said the centres faced an uncertain future.

“What has happened, in an era where everyone is saving money, is that our discussions with Arun have changed from how we can carry on providing this good service for older people, to how we can save money without it looking like the council is saving money.”