DISABLED people in north Kent say they are unhappy with the services put in place by a council after the closure of an activity centre.

The Queen Elizabeth Foundation Resource Centre, Brent Way, Dartford closed on October 17.

Kent County Council (KCC) funded the centre which catered for 180 people with physical disabilities The council is now selling the building which it owned and has replaced it with alternative services in Gravesend, Dartford and Swanley.

These include the Riverside Centre, Dickens Road, Gravesend, the Discovery Centre at Swan Valley Community School, Swanscombe, Swanley Youth and Community Centre in St Mary’s Road, and the Adult Education Centre, Summerhill Road in Dartford.

A group of members at the centre have been campaigning against its closure since August 2007.

They are now concerned that the new services are not an adequate replacement.

One member is 42-year-old Sonia Mallion of Oliver Road, Swanley.

She said: “It’s only been two weeks but there is still a lot of work that needs doing to provide better facilities at the new centres.

“This is disappointing because the council said that these services would be fully up and running as soon as the centre closed.”

She says that the main problems at the centres in Dartford and Swanley are access and space.

She said: “The centre in Dartford is a complete disaster in terms of access, there is nowhere to park.

“There is only a small car park which we share with a school and nursery as well.

“In terms of space we are currently using two rooms which are very small, and there is only one toilet for disabled users.”

Tony Brook of King Edward Avenue in Dartford says he is disgusted with the new services.

The 59 year-old said: “At the centre in Dartford I was stuck in one room with thirty people, half of whom were wheel chair users.

“There was simply no space to move.

“With the limited space we couldn’t set up the machinery to do activities such as carpentry and jewellery making, which were the things I enjoyed doing at the old centre.”

Kevin Best of milton road, gravesend has been using the centre for three years.

The 56-year-old said: “I use the Riverside Centre in Gravesend and last week we had no access to computers.

“I’ve been told that this issue is being resolved.

“I know many are disappointed with the new services.”

A spokesperson for KCC said: "We are only in the second week of this latest stage in improving facilities for those who are physically disabled in Dartford and Gravesham. There are three centres now in operation for visitors to enjoy meeting friends and taking part in a number of activities such as computing, jewellery and art sessions. The cardmaking activity has also been set up as a social enterprise and many sessions are led by those who attend the centres.

"Visitors can decide as a group the activities they would like to do and drivers and minibuses are available to help with travelling to other facilities in the local community. Bowling is proving particularly popular, there is interest in also going to the garden centre and visits to the leisure centre for swimming will start from next week.

"We continue to work with users of the centre to address any initial teething problems. Care staff are on hand to offer help and support and we have heard many positive comments from people about the improved opportunities and facilities on offer.

"At the Riverside Centre in Gravesend we understand there are plans to develop the garden area and allotments with raised beds to enable former QEF users to also enjoy gardening."