The Alzheimer’s Society’s shock announcement its Haslemere branch will close in March, has been condemned by formerly loyal supporters as “truly devastating”.

The society’s day centre at Marjorie Gray Hall, in Grayswood Road, opened in 1994 and operates from 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday) and staff also provide services across the borough and beyond.

Its three-strong team of professionals also provide information, support and advice to people with dementia, their families and carers, and hosts supper evenings, drop-in sessions and information sessions.

The society is closing three other day centres at Byfleet, Bletchingley and Redhill, blaming “consistently low attendances” for making the service unsustainable in Surrey.

But objectors in Haslemere protested it was the removal of funding for transport due to cuts in local authority spending that had caused the drop in numbers – and many of those most in need could now no longer afford the costs.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, the Dementia Champion for the South West Surrey constituency where he is also the Tory MP, described the closures as “a step back” at a time the Government has made tackling dementia a key priority.

Mr Hunt said: “This is terribly disappointing news as the centres do a marvellous job which I have been proud to see on many occasions. I will be seeking an urgent meeting with Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, to see what can be done.

“We have made so much progress in improving the care of people and families living with dementia, it would be a huge shame to take a step back.”

Strong concern was also voiced by ‘front line’ consultant psychiatrists and health professionals specialising in mental health services for the elderly locally, who have depended on the society’s day care services.

In a letter to The Herald from consultant psychiatrist Dr Harry Boothby, and signed by six fellow specialist health professionals, he wrote: “I and my colleagues represent mental health services for older people in the Waverley borough and have always put great reliance on the day services provided by the Alzheimer’s Society for people suffering with dementia, particularly those more severely affected and where family and carers are under particular strain.

“These day services contribute to the well-being of those suffering from dementia, provide important respite for carers and in terms of the overall health economy they raise the threshold at which residential placement becomes inevitable. They also provide a wealth of expertise, information and moral support to the informal care sector.

“It is the inability of social services to adequately support the financing of transport and places at these day centres which has resulted in them becoming economically unviable. The inevitable consequence will be to intensify the strain on our acute hospital, psychiatric inpatient and community services, all of which are in crisis - as is reported daily on a national basis.”

In a glitzy initiative last summer, the Health Secretary appointed Oscar-nominated actress Carey Mulligan as the first-ever UK Global Dementia Friends Ambassador.

Objectors to the closures have criticised the society, which raised £90 million in its last published report, of “losing touch” with the needs of its grass roots supporters as it ploughs more money into research.

The closure of its Haslemere branch is a particular blow, as it was one of the first day centres to be opened in 1994 and swiftly became a flagship with frequent royal visits by the society’s patron Princess Alexandra, because the society’s co-founder Cora Phillips, who died in 2006, lived locally. It was thanks to the dedicated fundraising efforts of an army of volunteers led by Haslemere neurologist Dr Anne Hunter, MBE, that enough money was raised to revamp the day centre in 2000.

The society’s decision in the mid 2000s to take away the management of its day centres from their volunteer committees and manage them directly, was blamed by ex-Haslemere branch chairman Barbara Jeffers for helping to undermine the successful operation, particularly as funds raised for the branch also no longer went directly to the branch but into a central pot.

Announcing the closure, the Alzheimer’s Society said: “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to permanently close Haslemere Day Centre on March 31, 2017.

“People with dementia and their carers are always at the forefront of our minds and we try to avoid closures wherever possible. However, despite our best efforts, we have seen a steady decline in the number of people using the service over the past 18 months.

“We have worked closely with adult social care, the borough councils and Surrey County Council and the clinical commissioning groups to promote the day centre and to address any barriers there may be for referrals but, sadly, this has not led to an increase in people using the service.

“This consistently low attendance has meant we are unable to cover the costs associated with running the centre. It is important to us no-one is left without a service which is why we have given three months’ notice to help people with dementia and their carers find the best possible alternatives.

“Our dementia navigators will signpost service users to other providers in the area and we will offer an information day where people can discuss their options with these providers.”

It said dedicated staff and volunteers had provided a “wonderful service”and it would work to support them and the centre users in the coming weeks.