THE British Red Cross will be closing its mobility aids service at Alton Health Centre at the end of August because it is no longer viable or sustainable.

The service will still be available to people in Hampshire from Gillies House Heath Centre, Basingstoke.

Aaron Stevens, British Red Cross mobility aids hub manager, said: “The Red Cross aims to help people in crisis both in the UK and overseas. To do this well we need to ensure we use our resources wisely and lease buildings that enable us to deliver our services in the most cost efficient manner while reaching as many people as possible.

“We have been looking at the suitability and viability of operating our mobility aids service from Alton and have taken the decision to close it.

“While it has been used to provide wheelchairs and other mobility aids to people in the area, it is no longer cost effective to deliver our services from this particular site given the proximity of another Red Cross mobility aids service in Basingstoke.”

While people who need mobility aids can still borrow them from Basingstoke, those who use the service in Alton have flagged up the distance between the two towns and the difficulty of getting to Basingstoke on public transport.

However, according to Mr Stevens, every effort is being made “to establish a home delivery service for service users in Alton who are unable to collect items from our other site.”

He added: “We realise that making changes to our buildings can be unsettling for those who have been involved with the service, so we are committed to putting in place a smooth transition process.

“The decision to close this centre does not reflect on the dedication and commitment of our amazing volunteers. Their work to provide help to people in crisis has been incredible, and we have been careful to communicate this change as sensitively as possible and thank them for everything they have done.

“We look forward to continuing to provide our vital services to people in Hampshire.”

To find your nearest Red Cross mobility aids service, or anyone interested in volunteering as a mobility aids delivery driver, should visit redcross.org.uk.