A DAY centre for adults with learning difficulties is being closed for a day so it can be used to help in the General Election count.

Wiltshire Council has apologised for the closure but said it will try to ensure users are not affected.

A council employee contacted the Wiltshire Times after they were approached by the parent of a service user at the centre, which is based at County Hall.

The parent was angry that The Medley Day Opportunities Centre will be closed on Friday, June 9 - just four days after it re-opens following the half term.

The employee, who does not want to be named, said they felt it was an “arrogant” decision by the council and they could understand why parents are not happy.

They said: “It’s a valuable service so I really can’t understand why Wiltshire Council have decided to close it – it’s as if the disabled don’t count.

“Surely they can find somewhere else to count the ballet boxes rather than closing a day service for adults with learning disabilities.

“Closing it for a day means the service users will have to rely on their families to support them, which places a burden on them.

“I think it’s out of order and quite simply arrogant behaviour from Wiltshire Council.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We apologise to anyone affected by us having to use the Medley Day Opportunities Centre on the day of the count.

“Due to the short notice we had to arrange the local general election counts, we needed to confirm a venue very quickly and our usual one, the Civic Centre, was unavailable.

“In addition to the main count area in the Atrium we require lots of additional rooms – including the one used by The Medley.

“We are looking at alternative options which are familiar to those who use the centre, and will update them individually.”

The Civic Centre, where Wiltshire Council usually carries out the general and council election counts, is booked on election night, June 8 for a performance by comedian Roy Chubby Brown.

Votes in the South West Wiltshire seat will instead be counted at County Hall, where rooms will be used both on election night and during the day on Friday as the count is cleared away.