THE Vale could end up as the only area in Wales without a women's refuge for domestic abuse, if controversial - and possibly illegal - cuts in social services go ahead.

At a packed meeting of the community wellbeing and safety scrutiny committee at the Memorial Hall, Barry, on Monday evidence was heard from voluntary groups who all slammed the Vale of Glamorgan Council's plan to cut their budgets by 10 per cent.

The £3 million-worth of cuts are part of an action plan to ease a projected £5 million overspend this year.

If the plan goes ahead, the committee heard many services provided by the voluntary sector would cease, meaning social services itself would have to take over - costing more in the long term.

One service that would stop would be the safe house for domestic abuse run by Vale of Glamorgan's Women's Aid (VGWA).

Manager Meriel Sykes-Newton said: "We have been here for 14 years, providing really really important services, with the refuge itself being open for 11 years.

"Some 488 women and children have been accommodated in the refuge since the year 2000.

"And 6,553 women and children have accessed our services since the year 2000. We are not talking about a few women and children, we are talking about thousands.

"Where will all these people go?"

Ms Sykes-Newton explained the funds they receive help run the support unit. Without that, there will be no refuge and Women's Aid will cease to be.

She added: "It's vital in maintaining the refuge. We will be the only county in Wales who will be without a refuge."

The committee agreed to recommend the matter to full council because of doubts over the legality of the cuts, and to send it the corporate resources scrutiny committee because of the financial implications of replacing the voluntary sector services.

Voluntary sector providers such as Mind in the Vale of Glamorgan, National Children's Homes, Barnardo's, and many others spoke out against the cuts - telling the committee they would be unable to offer the same service level as they do now.

They also attacked the council over the lack of consultation, with some organisations only receiving the action plan last week.

Cllr Gordon Kemp, cabinet member for social and care services told the Barry & District News after the meeting had ended that if there was anything illegal in the cuts, they would not happen.

He said: "It was a useful event to get the opinion of the voluntary sector. I think they have got to realise that everyone is going to affected by the financial situation."

Asked whether the cuts would be more expensive in the long run he said: "The advice I have had, is that the savings should not have a great deal of knock-on effect as far as the Vale is concerned.

"If they were to do that, we would have to review the situation."

l A special meeting of the community wellbeing and safety scrutiny committee will be held tomorrow, October 27, at 4pm in committee room two at the civic offices, to discuss the cuts the public are welcome to attend.