USERS of a popular day centre for people with learning disabilities are preparing to "fight tooth and nail," to keep it from being shut down.

Whittle Pike in Ramsbottom is earmarked for closure as social services chiefs start a shake-up of day services.

In a heated and emotional meeting with the borough social services officer Mr David Ashworth, parents of users of centre accused him of picking on vulnerable members of the community to cut costs. The protestors (pictured) have vowed to "fight dirty" to keep the day centre open. They have also promised to write to their MP and take the issue to the top.

Bury Council want to change the way services for people with learning disabilities are run in the borough by having a more community based "Outreach " system which would cater for more people. The closure of Whittle Pike would pay for the shake-up.

However at the packed meeting on Monday, users of the centre angrily accused the council shake-up as being a cost cutting exercise and not an improvement of services. Mr Anthony Phythian, of Ribbleton Close, whose daughter attends the centre said: "Of course it is a cost-cutting exercise at the expense of vulnerable people.

" My daughter has been attending the centre for years. She has tried Outreach and it didn't work for her.

"Services will not improve. If Whittle Pike shuts down it is the beginning of the end for many other day centres.

"I am going to contact the MP and take it to the Prime Minister if I have to.

"The council cannot play with people's lives like this."

Mr David Corbett, a long time user of the centre said: "Has anybody thought about the effect this is having on our members and staff at the day centre.

"Where they get the money from is their problem, closing Whittle Pike down is ours."

However Mr Ashworth insisted the measures were not a cost cutting exercise, because funds would still be used in the same sector.

He said: "If the building was kept open then the service for people with learning disabilities could not be expanded and more people would be affected.

"There are more people needing special facilities and they have to be catered for. By closing down the building we will have the funds to expand the services available.

"Other day centres will remain open allowing people to have the choice to either use Outreach of attend centres. Without the closure of the building we cannot offer this choice."

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