PENSIONERS fear they will be left isolated now that Abingdon Day Centre has been relocated to the outskirts of town — away from shops and services.

Oxfordshire County Coun-cil has moved Abingdon Day Centre from The Charter, off Stratton Way, to Audlett Drive, about a mile from the town centre.

The new base is a £1.2m centre where users can access a range of services, including chiropody, physiotherapy and massage.

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

The Abbey Centre, a day centre for people with learning difficulties, is moving in the opposite direction, from Audlett Drive to The Charter, at the end of the year.

It 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 client 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.”

Tony Andrews, the wellbeing and resource centre manager at Audlett Drive, said: “The building at The Charter was not physically capable of accommodating these new services.

“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, 77, of Foxborough Road, Radley, 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 will involve converting The Charter for the Abbey Centre’s learning difficulties service.

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 to be more independent.”