PARENTS of children attending a special needs day care centre in Ramsbottom have formed a committee to campaign against council plans to shut it down.

Whittle Pike Day Care Centre has been targeted for closure as a part of a shake-up of the region's day care services.

At a closed meeting last week around 60 parents of centre users voiced their opposition to social service's proposal to shut down the centre.

The closure of the centre would pay for Outreach - a new programme designed for people with special needs.

But parents expressed concern at the meeting over how the closure of the purpose-built centre would have a detrimental effect on the 60 plus adult members of Whittle Pike.

Mrs Joan Greener, a parent of one of the members said: "Members of Whittle Pike are at the centre through no fault of their own, they all have special needs.

"The families of the members also need respite support which is provided by the centre. We all need to know our families are being cared for in a safe and secure environment, not in buildings which are totally unsuitable to cater for their needs, as the social services are proposing."

She added: "A committee has been formed to assess ways of handling this latest proposal to close Whittle Pike.

"Parents and carers will not stand by and let the social services close the centre to the detriment of our handicapped people."

Mr David Ashworth, borough social services officer, said the social services would liase closely with the committee.

"A report will be put presented at the social services committee on September 16 setting out what has happened so far.

"The consultation programme is being overseen by the learning disabilities committee who will have face-to-face meetings, public meetings and send out questionnaires to people concerned with Whittle Pike," said Mr Ashworth.

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