CONTROVERSIAL plans to reduce care services for the disabled and elderly have been resurrected after being scrapped last year.

Lewisham Council is once again considering raising the eligibility threshold for adult social care meaning at least 800 vulnerable people could be left depending on friends and family for help.

This U-turn comes after the mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock, trashed the same plan in November last year following opposition to the cost-cutting proposal during a consultation.

The resurrected plans, detailed in a revenue budget savings report, could save the council £1.88m in the 2009/10 financial year by excluding people with 'lower substantial' needs from social care help.

Other cost-cutting ideas include closing one of the borough's day centres and increasing the price of meals-on-wheels.

Chairman of Lewisham Mencap, Nick O'Shea, said he was "horrified" at the idea, adding: "The types of people who would be affected by such cuts would include those who cannot bathe themselves, who have no way of controlling their money, or who could easily leave the gas on.

"I cannot believe this is happening again. We are preparing all the same material we used last time to fight this plan. First we will fight the council publicly through hearts and minds, but if we have to take it to the courts then we will."

He added: "We are already at the stage where we can't cut back services anymore. It really is very grim stuff."

When asked why this cost cutting plan had reared its head again, the mayor said: "We are aiming to save £10m in the 2009/10 financial year and we asked council officers to come up with how they would go about doing it - this is what they came up with.

"The savings plan will go before various committees where comments will be made, and then we can have a discussion about how to make those savings.

"Nothing has been decided. But we do need to have all the options on the table before we can have a discussion.

He added: "I can understand why people are worried, but making savings across the board might be better than, for example, closing all of the libraries."

Meanwhile, Green Party councillor, Ute Michel, who has promised to fight alongside service users, said: "These cuts proposals are like zombies - they keep staggering back from the grave after we think we have buried them for good.

"Service users were exhausted after fighting two years for their right to social care, and they will be devastated by having to fight again so soon."