THE decision to axe a support service for hundreds of vulnerable people has been branded “disgusting” by those who have relied on it for years.

Last week, the Standard revealed Essex County Council would completely withdraw One Support, which provides social care to around 1,600 elderly and vulnerable residents with physical and mental health problems, from the Maldon district at the end of March. Vulnerable residents fear they will not be able to cope once their carers stop visiting them.

Dave Smith, 61, of Wood Road, Heybridge is wheelchair bound and suffers from depression.

He said: “It’s an absolutely disgusting decision, I am incredibly angry.

“I’ve lived in Heybridge for 18 months, and my One Support worker has been with me to help with my day-to-day jobs that allows me to live, and she’s been so good with helping me organise payments and financial things which I can’t handle by myself.

“I just don’t know what I’m going to do now she has to go. People like me require a lot of help for our conditions.

It’s through no fault of our own, and now we can’t even get that help. The council has been callous and outrageous with this move.”

John White, 63, of Millfields in Burnham, said: “The people behind this decision should be ashamed of themselves. There’s been no alternative offered, no plan for what will happen to use after it’s gone. All I’ve managed to get from anyone is that there’s a drop-in clinic in Chelmsford.

“For people like me who can’t walk very far, that’s simply not good enough, I can’t get there.”

A woman in Burnham, who asked not to be named, fled an abusive relationship with her two children in 2015. She said: “I fled from Norwich with my two young children aged four and two from a domestic violence relationship and had a dash report and was marked as high risk. My One Support worker helped me fight my case for more than eight months when we were finally given our home.

I fled with my life and I had nothing.

“One Support then helped me get a cooker, washing machine, fridge freezer wardrobes, and drawers to help set us up. I was moved to an area with no family or friends and my One Support worker comes to visit me to make sure everything is going fine and any trouble I have with bills or the council she is there to help.

“I was diagnosed with depression last year. Having someone there to help guide me and to share some of my concerns and worries with was a life saver. Without my support worker I don’t know where I and my children would be, I want to thank them deeply for everything they have done for us to give us a second chance in life.”

The Standard asked the county council to put forward a councillor for interview. County Hall declined, and submitted the same statement as last week, which urged anyone with concerns to call Social Care Direct on 0345 603 7630.