The move to close Abbots Activity Centre was not taken lightly, a leading councillor said.

But Tina Dopson, Colchester Council’s portfolio holder for communities and diversity, said something had to give if more services for older people were to be provided.

Mrs Dopson, who is also the council’s older people’s champion, marched along Colchester High Street in opposition to a move to close the centre in 2004.

But she said: “That was a straightforward closure with no other provision being suggested.

“We need to reach out to other places. The vast majority of people live away from the activity centres and we need to get out into the communities.”

Colchester Council spent £122,000 running the town’s Abbots Activity Centre last year, of which it recovered £43,000 in income.

That meant the centre cost the council £79,000 to operate, which the council claimed equated to £395 for each of the 200 members.

The proposed review of services would make a total saving of £30,000 a year.

Mrs Dopson said: “I am passionate about services for older people. I think the way older people are treated is disgusting, with their benefits being cut.

“I also know our activity centres are the envy of other boroughs. Ideally, we would keep the centres and do more, but we are not in a climate where we can increase services for older people. I want to make the most of the money. We can’t do that as things are.

“This is a political decision no-one wants to make, but you have to be reasonable.”

Mrs Dopson said if the centre closed, members would be encouraged to use other facilities, such as those at Lion Walk and Leisure World, both in Colchester.

But she conceded the council would need to look at how pensioners got there.

About 50 hot meals are served at Abbots Activity Centre each day, but Mrs Dopson challenged whether that was a function the council should be providing.

She said: “That is a social care issue. I am not sure if hot meals should be provided by the council.

“What we are trying to do is extend the level of recreational services to older people across the borough. We have an increasing population of older people and we have to plan for the future.

“I appreciate it doesn’t seem we are planning for the present, but we want to provide activities closer to where people live.”

Mrs Dopson said no decision had been made on the future of the building in Ladbrook Drive.

She said: “We are still in the consultation process, but there are restrictions on what the building can be used for. Colchester Borough Homes has flats above it, so it can’t be used at night.

“It would be lovely to get some youth provision, such as Guides or Scouts, but it will be difficult to realise its full potential.”

But he move was condemned by the Tories.

Kevin Bentley, leader of the Conservative group on the council, condemned it as “disgraceful”.

He was part of the administration which proposed the closure of Abbots and Lion Walk Activity Centres in 2004.

But he said: “We decided it was not the right thing to do and we took the right decision in the end.

“I am outraged by this proposal. Whether it will save £1 or £1million, it is not the thing to do.”

Former Colchester mayor Sonia Lewis was the first chairman of the board at Abbots Activity Centre in 1989 and has maintained close links to it for more than 20 years.

She said: “Abbots Activity Centre should not close. It is a purpose-built centre which is DDA-compliant. Lion Walk may be in the centre of town, but Abbots is in a residential area and is well used.

“Years ago, I opposed the closure of the centres, but I did not march. I would lead the march now. Abbots is unique. It is an activity centre and also provides facilities for a number of other organisations, such as the blood donor services and the stroke club.

“I hope we have a full and frank consultation and the voices of the people of Colchester are heard.”

The council said meetings with members would now be held and details on how to respond would be released in the coming weeks. Only members have been invited to take part in the consultation.

A decision is due in the autumn.