The future of a vital service for the elderly still hangs in the balance after stakeholders failed to reach an agreement.

Residents and users of the Vennel Centre in East Road are still in the dark over the future over their “lifeline” service because crunch talks between operators Community Led Action Support Service (CLASP) and North Ayrshire’s Health and Social Care Joint Board, have failed to reach a resolution.

As revealed in the Times last week users are furious that the Joint Board are planning to extend the eight-hours-a day service to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Service users fear the extra hours means current service providers, CLASP, will likely be unable to afford to continue to run the programme - news which has left them devastated and fearful for the future of the facility.

However during make-or-break meetings this week CLASP’s board of directors were still unable to come to a decision on the proposals from the Joint Board.

CLASP manager Rosemary McCurdie said: “We were unable to reach a decision during the meeting so talks are on going, When we reach a decision we will release a statement.”

CLASP have until the end of November to reach a decision before their contract with the Vennel Centre ends.

Last week Rosemary Byrne, chair of the Irvine Seniors Forum, spoke of residents’ and users’ fears over the future of the facility.

She said: “It has got us all very, very worried. For most of the users this place is a vital lifeline and they are wanting to change it for no good reason.”

However North Ayrshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership has continuously insisted the facility was not “at risk”, despite users’ fears.