Care plan 'as good if not better'

Aberdeen City Council is consulting on the proposals

The man responsible for making changes to day care services in Aberdeen has said the proposals would be "as good if not better" than the current situation.

Senior social work manager Murray Lees spoke as campaigners stepped up a fight to save a closure-threatened centre for those with learning disabilities.

The council must save more than £8m from its social work budget. Changes to day care will meet some of that.

Mr Lees said he believed there had been an "over-provision" of some services.

Under the changes, one day care centre will close. Burnside is the council's preferred option and that could happen by June.

Campaign group

All users are being re-assessed. Some would be transferred to the Rosehill centre. Others will be offered alternative services.

The process could save the council about £700,000.

Mr Lees acknowledged there was a high level of anxiety around day centre closures and that the council needed to improve its consultation process.

A campaign group is being set up to fight the plans which threaten a care centre.