Savage social services cuts planned for Bexhill

A number of charities will see their funding slashed by thousands of pounds.

Hastings and Bexhill Mencap is among the worst hit. It will lose 18,000.

Other voluntary groups to be affected include:

Crossroads

Care for the Carers

East Sussex Vision Care

East Sussex Disability Association

Rethink and Together (previously Mental Health Aftercare Association).

There has also been a review of the Charter Centre in London Road, but it will stay open.

Eight day centres were reviewed. Three will close - in Rye, Eastbourne and Peacehaven.

The other five, including Charter, are set to see changes.

There will also be changes in assessing people suitable for social services funding.

Put bluntly, the criteria is being tightened and fewer people will receive funding.

County councillor Keith Glazier - in charge of social services - blames the government.

"This is the last thing we would want to do but we have no choice," he said.

"Our government grant this year - excluding education - has risen by 0.6 percent, that's 1.6 million.

"At the same time people are living longer and more people are coming through our doors.

"This simply isn't sustainable, and we have to do something.

"We know this will affect people, but I feel we have little alternative.'