PENSIONERS fear they will be isolated now their Abingdon day centre has been relocated to the outskirts of town — away from nearby shops and services.

Oxfordshire County Council has moved Abingdon Day Centre from The Charter, off Stratton Way, to Audlett Drive.

It has become a £1.2m resource and well-being facility, where users can use a range of services including chiropody, physiotherapy and massage.

About 120 people, including pensioners and those with physical disabilities, use the centre.

Meanwhile the Abbey Centre, a day centre for people with learning difficulties which is currently at Audlett Drive, is due to move to The Charter at the end of the year. The centre has about 59 adult users.

Abingdon Day Centre user Olive Minton, 95, of Cherwell Close, Abingdon, said: “It is not near the shops any more.

“I prefer being at the old site. I don’t like the fact that we have moved. It’s not as cosy as it was and I know the other ladies find it a pain too.”

A 78-year-old, from Abingdon, who did not wish to be named, said: “While the new centre may be bigger it is still a long way from town and really inconvenient. Before, everything was close at hand.”

But Tony Andrews, well being and resource centre manager, said: “The building at The Charter was not physically capable of accommodating the new services.

He said: “Only those clients who were physically capable used to access the shops when at The Charter.

“Those same clients now access the local facilities using a free bus provided by the county council.

“The bus journey has given clients new confidence in using transport by themselves, adding to their sense of independence.”

Pat Webb, of Foxborough Road, Radley, said the move was a good thing. The 77-year-old said: “I like the new place. We have a nice lawn which is not dusted from traffic from the multi-storey car park like before.

“We can sit out in the sun and chat without being polluted by all the fumes. The new site is a lot bigger and better. I am really glad to have moved, but I know others are not as happy.”

The next part of the project, due to start at the end of the month, will involve converting The Charter for the Abbey Centre’s learning difficulties service, which is expected to take until the end of the year.

Abbey Centre manager Robin Letchford said: “We have moved our service to the back half of the Abbey Centre to release the front part for the older people’s service.

“The building is large and we only occupy a tiny part, which is part of the reason we are moving.

“We are a long way out of town which is a huge disadvantage for us.

“This way we will be nearer to the shops, there will be better wheelchair access, it will be closer to users’ homes and there will be more opportunities for them to be more independent.”