campaigners battling the closure of Haslemere’s Alzheimer’s Society day centre have called for a stay of execution to give the community the chance to take it over.

The society, which was founded in 1979 thanks to the efforts of two town residents, announced a few weeks ago without pre-consultation, that its Monday to Friday ‘respite’ day centre at Marjorie Gray Hall, would close on March 31.

The society blamed its decision to shut it on “consistently low attendances”.

But objectors protested it was the removal of funding for transport due to cuts in local authority spending that had caused the drop, and the need was greater than ever.

Haslemere carer Margaret Barlow joined town deputy mayor Malcolm Carter and fellow protestors for a meeting with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt on January 20 to implore the town’s MP to present the case against “in the strongest possible terms” in his discussion with Alzheimer’s Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes.

Following his meeting with Mr Hughes, Mr Hunt (see letters page) proposed “a new way forward” with an appeal to the community to band together to support the centre as it has done in the past and continue its vital service.

He wrote: “We all agree we cannot leave anyone needing support or advice in the lurch. I would like to propose a different way forward that the Haslemere Community offers to fundraise a sum agreed with the Alzheimer’s Society to allow the Marjorie Gray Hall to continue to be used and run for people living with dementia – perhaps in partnership with other organisations that might use it to reduce the costs.”

Mr Hunt also urges residents to support the society’s move to replace its day care services with a new model of more tailored “one-on-one” support.

Fighting to save the service, the town council formed a working party on January 19 which includes mayor Sahran Abeysundara and three fellow councillors – Mrs Barlow, county councillor Nikki Barton and Rev Ruth Dillion, from Beacon Hill United Reformed Church.

The group met Alzheimer’s Society representatives Chris Wyatt and Jackie Parfitt to oppose the closure last Friday.

When it was made clear the service would close at the end of March, Rev Dillon described the short amount of notice given as “appalling” and the group called for an extension of three months at least.

The group has asked the society to provide running costs for the day centre in order to see if alternative funding can be found.

Members refuted the society’s claim that fewer people needed the service at a time when dementia appears to be on the increase, and told the representatives it was the withdrawal of the Hoppa transport service, with no consultation with users, that directly contributed to a significant reduction in users.

The group was not convinced the new “one-on- one” model would benefit current users. A town council spokesman said: “While it is appreciated there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ service for dementia sufferers, the suggestion that a day care service is no longer required and current users would benefit more from a ‘tailored one-to-one solution’ is questioned by the group.”

The group is due to meet with Mr Hughes after his meeting with carers at the Haslemere Museum today (Thursday), before deciding the best way forward.

Mrs Barton said: “There is a precedent for a stay of execution – the Alzheimer’s Society gave six months’ notice to three other centres in Surrey it has already closed. In Chertsey, the local community successfully saved their day centre and set it up as a local charity, Orchard Dementia Centre. It shows where there’s a will there’s a way.

“I believe it would be an absolute travesty if the Alzheimers Society was to close the Marjorie Gray Hall without giving the community the chance to save it. The Alzheimer’s Society was founded in Haslemere, and over the years residents have generously given their time and money to invest in the hall and its essential services.

“While I understand the Alzheimer’s Society is changing its national strategy, I fail to understand how they can pull the rug from underneath such a vulnerable group of residents and their carers struggling to cope with the cruel and devastating impacts of dementia without full and proper local consultation, or consideration for their well being.

“Given that Haslemere has one of the highest proportion of over-80 year olds in Surrey, and dementia is now the leading cause of death in the UK, demand for the excellence centres like Marjorie Gray Hall offer, will only increase.”