A Bradford day centre for disabled people which was earmarked for closure has been given a reprieve as Bradford Council admits it got it wrong.
Whetley Hill Resource Centre in Manningham is used by more than 90 people and the Council announced plans last year to close it down as part of budget cuts.
But yesterday, as it was visited by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Council leader Ian Greenwood admitted there were things they should have considered to save money at the centre before they got to talking about closing it.
It came as the executive agreed to give the centre until April next year to make enough savings to secure its future long-term.
Changes, including closing the centre for one day a week and charging £3 for food and transport, are now expected to be made in order to save on running costs. It emerged at the meeting in City Hall that only eight people use the centre five days a week.
Further work will also be done to look at how the building can be better used by the community and other Council services, such as relocating the occupational health service there to save on rental costs.
Coun Greenwood said: “There are a group of people attending Whetley Hill who have no alternative provision available. From the point that was known, it became clear we had to do something that recognises the particular needs of those people.”
Leading campaigner Kath Wooller said they would be happy to work alongside the Council in order to keep the centre open.
The changes should save £143,000.
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