People today have a chance to air their views on a day centre for disabled people which is under threat.

The Day Opportunities Service (DOS) in St Stephen’s Walk, South Ashford, faces closure after 50 years.

Mencap will hold a drop-in session to gather people’s opinions this morning and the county councillor responsible for the changes will visit Ashford this afternoon.

The Mencap meeting is open to all and runs from 10.30am-2.30pm today at International House.

Cllr Graham Gibbens (Con), who has turned down his invitation to attend the meeting, will instead visit a project for disabled people and meet people with learning difficulties at Stour Centre this afternoon.

People who go to the day centre, their parents and carers are upset by the plans to close the centre. Kent County Council says the changes are part of their modernisation programme.

KCC has faced criticism from Ashford Mencap for not listening during the consultation. And Cllr Gibbens had to apologise when staff found a planning application to build one bedroom flats pinned to a lamp post. Their employer KCC had made the application but not informed staff or people who go to the centre.