A COUNCIL is to begin consultations over changes in services for people with learning disabilities that could see up to six day centres being closed.

One of the centres which could be closed is the Pontop Centre at Annfield Plain, near Stanley, and Durham County Council is to talk to users, their parents or carers, staff and unions about the new "person-centred" service it is looking to provide.

The change was prompted by the Government's Valuing People strategy, which aims to offer more opportunities and integration, and could see six of the council's centres close.

Instead of taking part in activities at Pontop, which is attended by about 100 people from areas including Chester-le-Street, users would have a plan based on their needs and wishes.

For example, some could be helped to take college courses or find jobs, and services and activities would be based in the community rather than at a centre.

Some users need help with basic tasks such as eating and some are past retirement age.

The consultation programme is expected to cost about £10,000, the council's cabinet has been told.

Learning Disability Service manager Ian Bennett said the council had not taken a "blanket" decision to close the centres and each centre was being looked at individually.

He said the way services were provided was changing and pointed out that previously day centre users spent most of their time in "repetitive contract work".

He added: "We are looking at how we can improve services rather than having people go to centres which exclude them."

He said some may be worried about the change, particularly users who had been at the centre for several years.

County councillor Watts Stelling, who has a teenage daughter with Down's syndrome, welcomed the approach but said changes must be handled sensitively as users could find it upsetting.

Councillor Stelling, Independent member for Leadgate and Medomsley, said his daughter Lisa would have gone to the Pontop Centre but instead was hoping to do a college course in social skills.

He said: "These centres are outdated and we need to move on and offer people something different."

He added that adapting to the change in the service would be difficult for some people who had attended the centre for several years.

"For the service users coming through now, it is a big step forward but for the older ones who go to the centre it could be a disaster because they are shutting the centre. It has to be done sensitively and carefully and over a period of time.'