I'm writing to object in the strongest possible terms to Brighton and Hove City Council's intention to decrease service levels for people with a learning disability.

These are some of the most vulnerable people in our society and they have the right, just like anyone else, to meaningful and appropriate daytime activities, occupation and care within our community.

Moreover, it is only because families and carers - often one and the same person - feel assured their family member is being well cared for that they can go to work and lead anything approaching a normal life.

If their family member with a learning disability no longer receives the level of service they are entitled to, they may be forced to give up work and become economically inactive and dependant on the State for financial support.

Or, under this kind of pressure, carers may decide they can no longer care for their family member and ask the local authority to house them in residential accommodation.

The cost of this would be much greater than continuing to provide services at their current levels. Reducing services will place an unduly heavy burden on carers, who are happy to care for those they love, but, in many cases, will struggle to continue with even less help from the council. Further service cuts may prove to be the straw which breaks the camel's back.

The parliamentary white paper, Valuing People, endorsed the Government's proposal for the modernisation of day services for people with a learning disability but it aimed to ensure adequate resources were focused on providing opportunities for people with a learning disability to lead full and purposeful lives.

Day services are vital to the quality of life for people with a learning disability, their families and carers, and we urge the council to reconsider its proposal to "make savings" on the current service levels.

-George I Mills, chairman, Mencap, East Sussex committee