A CAMPAIGN has been set up to save Sudellside Community Centre.

But Darwen MP Jake Berry has urged people to follow the council’s plans by forming a group to take over the running of the centre.

Users of the centre are ‘devastated’ at the decision to include it in £4million proposed cuts by Blackburn with Darwen Council, which may see 15 other facilities shut.

Council chiefs have said it can stay open if a local group can be formed to take on its running.

Mr Berry said: “I think there is a strong argument for keeping it open on a voluntary basis.

“It’s not that the council want to close it, but they can’t keep it open the way things are. It’s something a charity group could run for the good of the community.”

The view is echoed by Blackburn with Darwen Council leader, Coun Mike Lee, who insists that comm-unity centres can work without council funding.

But some users disagree. Ray Heeks runs a martial arts class at the centre, in Sudellside Street, teaching 111 pupils, aged between four and 68.

Mr Heeks has set up an online petition against the closure, and has been taking a paper version around town centre shops. Both will be presented to the town hall.

He said: “I do not think it’s feasible to run Sudellside as a voluntary non-profit organ-isation.

“There are not enough people in the community who are committed, or who have the business skills in place.”

He added: “I have been expecting something like this to happen for a while “David Cameron and Jake Berry came to the centre in 2007 talking about how these centres are good for law and order, but they have gone against everything they said. Closing this centre will have wide repercussions across the town. They help youngsters channel aggr-ession, provide classes for mums and tots, and this is where people in sheltered accomodation come for lun-ches.”

To sign the online petition, visit: http://www.sudellside ca.org.uk