A PENSIONER who has visited a Dorchester day centre for 16 years has hit out at price hikes for the service.

Irene Harris, who regularly attends the Acland Road day centre, says she and others who use the service are upset at new charges introduced by Dorset County Council, which will see some people forced to pay as much as £22 a day to use the centre.

Mrs Harris, 76, said the day centre offers an invaluable opportunity for isolated people to get out and enjoy social interaction but several people are saying they will be forced to reduce their visits due to the rise in costs.

She said: “I go there because I’m on my own and its just good to get out and have company.

“I have never paid and when I went the other week my friend said we are going to have to start paying.”

Wheelchair-bound Mrs Harris said she was told by the County Council that people would have to pay up to £22.41 for a session, although she will have to pay less because she is on benefits.

She said she would probably have to reduce her visits from three mornings a week to two and she knows of others who will have to stop going as often because they simply can’t afford to pay.

Mrs Harris, who lives at Sandringham Court in the county town, said: “I just feel sorry for the people that can’t afford it.

“A lot of people go there for the company and just get out from the four walls of the house.

“It’s something a lot of people enjoy.”

She added: “I shan’t have to pay so much but I will still have to pay so I think I will probably have to cut it down to two mornings a week.

“I have already got to pay £30 a week for my taxis and there’s meals on top of that.

“There must be other people using it who are in the same position and there is one lady down there who used to go every day and now she’s cut down to two days a week.

“She loved going down there like I suppose a lot of people do.”