Councillors have been asked to urgently back a fight to keep a vital Lancaster facility open.

Vale View Day Centre in Stratford Road, Lancaster, has been included in Lancashire County Council’s forthcoming strategic review of in-house adult social care services.

The facility is open five days a week to provide meals, support and social activities for older people across the district.

Miles Manley, a concerned local resident, wrote to all city councillors to ask for their backing in the fight to keep the centre open.

placeholder image — Vale View Day Centre in Lancaster.

And Lancaster MP Cat Smith has also joined the fight – launching a petition to directly appeal to the county council.

“Vale View is not simply a building or a service – it is a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” Mr Manley said.

"Every day, it provides safety, friendship, structure, and care for older people and adults with disabilities who rely on it for their wellbeing, dignity, and independence.

"For families and carers, it offers much-needed respite, reassurance, and peace of mind.

Cat Smith MP pictured outside Vale View.

“The potential threat to Vale View has left many local families deeply anxious. For those who depend on the centre, there is no easy alternative. Losing this service would not only devastate individuals and their families – it would also tear at the very fabric of our community.

“The staff at Vale View are extraordinary. They go above and beyond to create a warm, inclusive, and stimulating environment that supports both physical and emotional wellbeing.

"Many users have attended for years; it is a place of belonging, friendship, and purpose – things that cannot be measured in financial terms.

“While we appreciate the need for the council to review its services, it is vital that this process recognises the true social value of centres like Vale View.

"The wellbeing of service users must come before cost-cutting or consolidation. Once a service like this is lost, it is almost impossible to replace.”

Mr Manley said there was “deep concern” that staff had reportedly been placed under an embargo preventing them from generating support on social media or speaking publicly.

"This is especially troubling given that they are simultaneously being told the centre needs community support to stay open,” he said.

"Silencing the very people who understand the service best undermines transparency, chills open discussion, and creates a strong impression that a decision may already have been made, regardless of community views.

“A fair process requires that staff, families, and users can speak freely and be heard."

The plea asks for councillors’ help to ensure that Vale View Day Centre remains open and fully supported, and that the review process genuinely listens to service users, families, and staff – with no gagging of frontline voices.

It also requests that Lancashire County Council recognises that the long-term social and emotional impact of closure would far outweigh any short-term financial savings.

The campaign asks councillors to write to Lancashire County Council’s leadership and the cabinet member for adult services to oppose any closure or reduction of Vale View and to request the immediate lifting of the staff communications embargo.

It also wants them to seek assurances that any consultation will be open, accessible, and meaningful – including in-person events at Vale View – and that evidence (including equality impacts, travel/access barriers, and likely cost-shifts to health and care) will be published and scrutinised.

In addition, it asks for councillors to visit Vale View to meet staff, users, and families, and raise the matter in Parliament and with ministers as appropriate.

“Your backing as elected councillors across Lancaster, Morecambe, and the wider county carries great weight,” Mr Manley said.

"Service users come from multiple wards and divisions, so your collective support is essential.

"We urge you – individually and together – to speak up for Vale View, champion its vital role, and ensure that the most vulnerable people in every community continue to receive the care and connection they deserve.”

Ms Smith said closing the service risks isolating “some of the most vulnerable residents in our community”.

"It is beloved by its service users, and families are worried about what will happen to their relatives who depend upon it if it closes,” she said.

“The building has fallen into disrepair and is need of investment, or an alternative venue nearby.

"Closing the centre without any protections for those who use it or their staff is not the answer.

“We are calling on Lancashire County Council to Save Vale View Day Centre: Invest in the building or source a nearby venue that is fit-for-purpose to protect those using the service and its staff.”

You can sign Ms Smith’s petition online at https://www.catsmith.co.uk/latest/2025/10/14/save-vale-view-day-centre/

Helen Coombes, executive director of adult services, said: "The council has made clear that it is committed to providing excellent care to the residents of Lancashire.

"We understand that change can be difficult, but if the review goes ahead every step will be handled with compassion, respect, and support for residents and their families.

"We want to consider changes to how care is provided to ensure we’re providing the best possible outcomes for our residents.

"We also understand that this will be an unsettling time for some of our staff. We deeply value the dedication and compassion they bring to their work, and we will be committed to supporting them through this process."

Residential care homes included in the review are Favordale in Colne, Grove House in Adlington, Milbanke in Kirkham, Thornton House in Thornton Cleveleys and Woodlands in Clayton-le-Moors.

Day centres under review are Byron View in Colne (attached to Favordale), Derby Centre in Ormskirk, Milbanke Day Centre in Kirkham (attached to Milbanke), Teal Close in Thornton Cleveleys (attached to Thornton House) and Vale View in Lancaster.