BRIDPORT’S Chancery House day centre could see a new lease of life in the future, say supporters.

As part of the county council’s root and branch review of adult social care in Bridport the future of the popular day centre off East Street has been thrown into question.

A major consultation exercise is continuing to establish what local people of all ages want to see in the future.

Bridport county councillor Ros Kayes, pictured, says that she believes that Chancery House could be part of the future arrangements – and that could free up funds to build a new Sidney Gale care home for the elderly.

The county council has said it will not have the money to build and run a new elderly care home in Bridport.

Chancery House trustee and district councillor Keith Day has suggested that Chancery House could be a community ‘hub’.

Coun Kayes agrees and said she is looking at the possibility of combining the Citizens’ Advice Bureau in the building.

Coun Kayes said: “I have had meetings with Chancery House and the CAB and I understand that Coun Jill Haynes, the cabinet member responsible, is doing so also and I am in discussions with her.

“I do think that it is a realistic option that Chancery House can be adapted for extra people and also that it could be co-located with the CAB, which by doing so would leave sufficient money to rebuild a new Sidney Gale.”

Coun Kayes also took issue with town councillor Karl Wallace who has raised the question of whether Sidney Gale could be run as a social enterprise.

“We have to be responsible in the course of dealing with this,” said Coun Kayes. “However, the county council is committed to finding a replacement for Sidney Gale and so there is no occasion to whip up concern.

“At a town council meeting Coun Wallace criticised the county’s proposal to set up a local authority trading company to run Sidney Gale house yet he is now proposing that it could be run as a social enterprise.

“I am a director of three social enterprises. It would not be a sensible or easy option – it would simply not be practical.”

Full details of the county’s suggested options for adult social care provision in Bridport are online at dorsetforyou.com/bridport-consultat ion or a questionnaire can be collected at the town council offices at Mountfield, the TIC, Bridport Library, the Fisherman’s Arms, Sidney Gale home and the community resource centre in Flood Lane.

The consultation ends on March 7.