Axe finally falls on Old Windsor Day Centre

The axe has fallen on a village day centre.

Julie White, who has managed the Old Windsor Day Centre in Straight Road since it opened 23 years ago, and her daughter and deputy Tracey Chaplin were both given notice yesterday. They were also informed the club would close its doors on March 28.

The closure does not come as a surprise, as membership has fallen from 300 to 127. Members of the management committee voted to wind up the charity that runs the centre two weeks ago.

This week the redundant manager Julie, 60, who lives in the village, said: "I feel awful. It has been 23 years of my life and now it has all changed. My whole family has been involved with the club over the years.

"My daughter Carol was cook for five years, my husband Peter has helped out.

"I feel sorry for the members, some are really reliant on coming here."

Hope has been offered in the form of the charity Age Concern Slough and Berkshire East, whose chief executive Tracey Morgan met representatives from the Royal Borough and parish council on Friday to discuss a way forward.

But the charity is not expecting to be able to offer a full five-day service such as has existed in the past.

Cllr Lynne Jones (Independent, Old Windsor), who represents the village on the Royal Borough, said: "The borough is determined no-one will be left high and dry. The hope is that Tracey can eventually build the club back up to five days.

"The demand just is not there at the moment."

So far though no date has been mentioned for the club to reopen.