As parents of a son with learning difficulties, it was of great concern to us to read that the Stanley Centre which he has attended for the last 22 years is to close (Guardian, August 31).

Having lost the bus that transported them to outside activities, we now find that the centre itself, which was purpose built, is declared unfit for purpose.

We are not aware that any of the carers or staff has complained about it and we have always seen it as a happy and caring place. In fact we have felt privileged that the government of the day found money to provide this centre.

We believe that the motive behind closing the site is to free the land for a big health centre.

It seems odd that we appear to have the money to build a facility which only duplicates those the town already has, such as doctors’ surgeries, a local hospital for x-rays, blood tests etc, while making staff redundant and closing the Stanley Centre and Bexton Court.

A new health centre would be fine if the country were financially sound and could afford to do this, but this is not the time to spend on big capital projects.

It also appears that we have the money to pay the chief executive an obscenely large salary and generous pay rises but cutting services at the expense of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Angela and Tony Millerchip Knutsford