Wendy SoarWILTSHIRE County Council has finally secured a new home for Devizes Activity Centre. Adult users of the centre, who have physical and learning disabilities, have been without a permanent home since last September.

Now the county council is to take over the lease of the Wharfside Restaurant building in Couch Lane when owner Judy Podger retires on June 25 and the restaurant closes.

Some work will be needed to be carried out on the building before users move in but it is hoped it will be complete by the end of the summer.

The county council said the new centre would provide improved facilities for users.

The activity centre offers a wide range of activities such as computing, painting, sewing, cooking and shopping and for many users it provides a vital social outlet.

Coun Judy Seager, the county council's Cabinet member for adult care services, said: "I am delighted that a new permanent home has been found for Devizes Activity Centre. This new base will give service users a sense of security and will provide much better facilities for them."

The county council had been criticised for the length of time it had been taking in finding a permanent home, and for not fixing up new accommodation before the activity centre moved out on September 1.

County council officials initially planned to base the centre on the revamped Devizes College campus in Southbroom Road but this fell through.

Since moving from the London Road Youth and Community Centre where it was based for more than ten years, up to 50 users have met at different places including pub function rooms, the Corn Exchange and other venues.

For the first few months after the closure users were unable to access computers and other learning resources as they were being kept in storage, but now laptop computers are being used.

People with physical disabilities have been meeting at a community hall belonging to the almshouses in Victoria Road.

Member Wendy Soar, 48, of Elizabeth Drive, Devizes, was delighted that a permanent base had been secured. She said: "We have been wanting a permanent base for months so I am pleased that one has been found.

"Not having somewhere permanent to meet has been particularly stressful for the users with learning disabilities. They were pushed from pillar to post."

The activity centre was moved from the London Road Youth and Community Centre because the county council's young people's support service took over most of the building after a critical Ofsted report.