Save Chesil Lodge Daycare Centre

Chesil Lodge Daycare Centre is under threat – alongside Newman Court in Basingstoke --  as the Conservative-run County Council looks to make further budget cuts.

Located in the heart of Winchester, Chesil Lodge Day Care Centre serves residents right across the Winchester area. It provides essential day care services for older adults, including those living with dementia, long-term health conditions, or those at risk of social isolation. It also offers vital respite for family carers – many of whom rely on this support to help them keep their loved ones at home.

While there would be a small cost saving if the centre is closed, the impact on families could be huge. Without this essential support and respite care, carers could become overwhelmed, and loved ones forced into residential care – which in the end will cost the County Council and local taxpayers far more.

Why this matters:

• Chesil Lodge provides crucial care and companionship for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
• The staff are highly experienced, and users consistently speak with warmth and praise about the care they receive.
• Despite the growing number of full-time carers in Hampshire, there are very few community-based respite services.
• If the centre closes, carers could face burnout, and more people may end up in full-time residential care — a significantly more expensive outcome for the Council.
• With an ageing population, centres like the Chesil Lodge Day Care Centre are only going to become more important — they should be preserved.

Cllr Paula Ferguson says:

“The County Council argues that closing Chesil Lodge is only a small cut, but for the families who depend on it, the impact will be devastating. It is simply wrong to try and balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable.”

The Liberal Democrats are committed to standing up for local services like the Day Care Centre at Chesil Lodge. We believe in protecting care, supporting carers, and putting people before short-sighted cuts.