A DOZEN council-run day centres for adults are facing closure as part of a review of services.

Durham County Council is considering a reorganisation of adult day services which would see 12 of the authority’s existing 17 centres close their doors by September as part of efforts to save £1.59 million from the annual budget.

Members of the council’s ruling Cabinet will be asked to approve the proposed reorganisation when they meet at County Hall on Wednesday.

The 12 day services which would close are: Ebony Woodwork Unit, in Consett; Chester-le-Street Pathways; Crook Pathways; the Proudfoot Centre, in Bishop Auckland; Annfield Plain Pathways; Silver Street, in Spennymoor; Consett Pathways; the Harmire Unit, in Barnard Castle; Bishop Auckland Pathways, in Tindale Crescent; the Bracken Hill Centre, in Peterlee; the Bede Day Centre, in Barnard Castle; and Stanhope Pathways.

Instead, five centres across County Durham would be retained to offer specialist services to about 100 people with complex needs.

The five centres which would continue to deliver specialist day services would be Durham Pathways, in Pity Me; Spennymoor Pathways, based at Spennymoor Leisure Centre; Newton Aycliffe Pathways, based in Aycliffe Leisure Centre; Peterlee Pathways; and Stanley Pathways, in the Louisa Leisure Centre.

The council says that, if the proposals are agreed, users of the 12 centres earmarked for closure will be given help finding alternative provision to meet their needs elsewhere.

It says that demand for traditional council-run services is falling as many people, particularly young adults, choose to go elsewhere for their care needs.

Cllr Lucy Hovvels, cabinet member for adult and health services at Durham County Council, said: “It is important for us to recognise that increasingly people want to take more control over their own services and choose those which best meet their individual needs.

“Many younger people in particular are already choosing services in the community and independent sector, although we appreciate that there is still a need for the council to provide specialist services for people with complex needs."

She added: “We also understand that for some people change can be very difficult and we have spent time consulting with people and their carers so that we can understand their views and help to find the right way forward for each individual.

“We would continue to work with people and carers to help them understand their different options.

“We would look to organise taster sessions to help people make the right choice and, where necessary, would help to arrange gradual introductions to new services.”