A day centre for elderly people in Coventry is to close as part of cuts to make £100,000 savings.

Samuel Hayward House in Bell Green was earmarked for closure because there are other facilities nearby for pensioners. The building also doesn’t meet required standards and would require costly work to stay open.

The building’s closure will save £10,000 this year and £42,000 each year after that.

Last year’s budget set a target of £95,000 savings in the city council’s day care provision.

But Cllr Kevin Maton, cabinet member (Social Services), has ruled that the closure will not go ahead until all the people who use the site have been consulted, and alternative facilities have been found.

This is planned to take place in the next few weeks, so the centre can close by December 2000.

There is currently over-capacity in the day centre provision in the city, and officials do not anticipate any problems in finding other places to go.

After the day centre’s closure, the building will become part of the Riley Square District Shopping Centre, and control will be passed to the commercial arm of the council.