COUNCILLORS in one of the most deprived areas of Burnley fear that disadvantaged people could miss out if a 'valuable' community centre is taken out of the area.

There are fears that the Access Point could be moved away from its base in Daneshouse Road after its control was moved from Burnley council to the Community Alliance.

The alliance is an umbrella of community groups from the Burnley area.

Now a group of councillors have demanded an inquiry into how the handover was handled by Burnley council chiefs amid accusations the authority failed to consult properly about the change.

Burnley council's executive voted to hand over control of the Access Point - which provides training and job advice for the unemployed - at its meeting on May 29, saving more than £6,000 in annual running costs.

But that decision has been met with dismay by Daneshouse councillors Zahir Ahmed, Shah Hussain and Wajid Khan as well as Gary Frayling and Imtiaz Hussain, from Bank Hall.

They fear that the service may now be moved out of the area.

Coun Khan said: "Access Point has been running for more than 10 years at this locality, providing valuable services and is a well used service for residents disadvantaged in the labour market.

"It is not clear whether it will remain in its locality and this constitutes a major change and hence a wider consultation should have taken place."

He added: "Here we have the council saying they can no longer afford to run this service and therefore we have lost a service and there is no guarantee it will be provided in the future for disadvantaged people."

A spokesman for Burnley council said: "The council decision during the recent budget round to no longer provide funding for the Access Point meant that a decision on its future needed to be taken.

"As the Access Point provides a well used service for residents disadvantaged in the labour market and as external funding for its activities is more readily available to the community and voluntary sector, a decision to outsource Access Point, as opposed to closure, is appropriate.

"The Community Alliance submitted the successful bid.

"Having sought independent advice, bids were invited from three local community and voluntary sector organisations. Only two bids were received.

"An analysis of the bids revealed the Community Alliance as the preferred bidder.

"The transfer will enable the Access Point to continue its services to disadvantaged residents thereby improving their chances of securing employment."

The councillors hope to meet with the council at a future date to discuss the matter.