DEMONSTRATORS are celebrating the temporary reprieve of a popular Ramsbottom day care centre.

More than 60 staff and users of Whittle Pike took their protest to Bury Town Hall and furiously lobbied councillors to save their centre.

They packed Tuesday's social services committee to the rafters and were delighted when councillors agreed that much more work had to be done before the centre could be closed.

And they cheered when members agreed to co-opt representatives from Whittle Pike onto a special committee which will carry out an in-depth survey into the centre and day care services generally.

But members say that while they may have won the battle, they have yet to win the war.

The centre caters for people with special needs, but was earmarked for closure as part of a social services shake-up of day care services.

The department wants to use the money saved by closing Whittle Pike to expand Outreach services. Bosses say this is the only way they can pay for the growing number of people needing services. But two months of consultation with users, their relatives and staff have resulted in controversy with figures concerning finance and centre attendance being disputed.

As a result, councillors have ordered a feasibility study to look into all aspects of day care. The agenda will be set by the learning disabilities sub-committee, which includes representatives from all sides, and will report back next February or March for a final decision.

Liberal Democrat councillor Vic D'Albert was applauded when he said: "Some people have been attending this centre for 20 years. We can't play with people's lives, they should be involved in every stage of the study."

Labour councillor Sue Arnall hoped the centre could remain and be used by the whole community.

"People value the place they go to, rather than just being another group which uses a community centre," she said. "People like us who have a job meet colleagues every day in the same place."

Mr David Ashworth, borough social services officer, promised that work on the feasibility study would be completely open and transparent.

Mr Tony Horner, whose son Michael attends the centre, welcomed the decision.

Mr Horner, of Waddington Close, Bury said: "Without the campaign I don't think the councillors would have made the decision they did."

He added: "We might have won the battle but we haven't yet won the war."

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