MEMBERS of a day centre fear it could close if a hot meal service is axed by Basildon Council.

Regulars at the George Hurd Centre in Audley Way, Basildon, fear for its future as the council plans to axe £30,000 from its catering budget, putting the hot meal service at risk.

Members have launched a petition to keep the meals and plan to join forces with other centres at the Place in in Northlands Pavement, Pitsea and Laindon Activity Centre, in Aston Road, Laindon.

One member, Penny Wright, 66, of Harold Gardens, Wickford, has even written an open letter to councillor Terri Sargent, Basildon councillor responsible for community, urging her to “show some gratitude and respect for the elderly and provide good services for this valuable section of our community”.

Mrs Wright said: “I think there are some people who could maybe afford to pay more and would scrape what they have got together, but the majority of people are living off meager state benefits. They will stop coming.
“The council might not be obliged to provide hot meals but they have a morale obligation of care.

“I am speaking out for our less mobile and less active members. Many come here for their only hot meal of the day and will end up staying home and staring at their own four walls if the service goes. We are like their family.”

George Hurd committee chairman Brenda Steele MBE, 73, said: “We are not going to sit down and take this. It seems to me it’s always the most vulnerable people who are being targeted. I just feel like we are being classed as second class citizens.

“We’ll still have people come here for classes, but all the socialising we have now will be gone. It just won’t be the same.”

Last year the committee was forced to increase its annual membership from just £4 to £52 after Basildon Council announced it needed more money to continue its day centres.