THE new Mayor of Rossendale has slammed the drastic funding cuts to adult services calling them ‘appalling’.

Count Hall chiefs yesterday sent out a letter to day care service users notifying them that from June 6 all subsidies would be removed, leaving some families facing fee hikes of more than £25 per day.

Coun Gladys Sandiford now plans to fight these plans which she claims will see services lost as people withdraw and struggle alone at home simply because they can not afford to seek help.

At the beginning of 2005, Coun Sandiford’s husband Jim suffered a brain haemorrhage, which left him with short term memory loss and mobility problems.

Jim, 82, attends Parkside Day Care Centre in Bacup once a week, as well as receiving care at home.

Coun Sandiford said: “I got a blue letter through the post, saying that from June 6 my husband’s day care fees will rise from £5 to £30.75 per day.

“I just don’t know how people will afford this.

"Sending Jim to respite was the only time I had for myself as he needs around the clock care.

"But the hike from £20 a month to £123 a month is just too much. I can’t afford it and I am sure others won’t be able to either.”

Coun Sandiford, who has been married for 56 years, said: “I know cuts have to come in somewhere but this cut is one cut too deep.

"People just won’t be able to cope. I was expecting the price to double maybe but not increase by almost six times the amount.

“What will happen is people will stop using the service because they cannot afford it and the county council will turn round and say there is no demand for day care centres and close them.

“I have been on to the council. I just hope they do something before it’s too late.”

Coun Sandiford plans to share the fruits of her Mayoral fundraising among adult service charities like the Alzhiemers Society.