The death knell tolled for Kemback Adult Resource Centre in Dundee but protesters have vowed that their fight to save the facility will go on.
Councillors voted by 15 to 10 to close the doors on the centre by November 29 and transfer the existing users to alternative support services, including the Wellgate Day Resource Centre.
The decision was met with “extreme disappointment” from the Kemback Street Action Group, who may now consider launching a legal challenge to overturn the decision.
Chairman George Stewart said: “I really think the real losers are the service users who have come to love that service.
“I want to go and think things over and talk to the lawyers. Certainly the fight is not over as far we’re concerned but our prime consideration and priority is the interest and well-being, psychological and emotional, of the service users.”
Around 20 protesters against the centre’s closure leafleted councillors ahead of the meeting.
Labour MSP Jenny Marra, who has been campaigning with the action group, branded the councillors’ decision “a disgrace”.
She said: “Anyone who has been to both Wellgate and Kemback Street knows that Kemback Street is the better facility. It has bigger capacity, the people love it and there has got to be a balance of day services and personalisation of services.
“Even an idea put to the council tonight that they run personalised services from Kemback Street centre was rejected.
“It has been their plan right from the start to close this and it is a disgrace that they have not been prepared to listen to people.”
An independent report by consultant Alex Davidson was discussed during the stormy 2-hour meeting of the social work and health committee.
The council ordered the report after the authority had previously failed to properly consult on the closure.
Social work and health convener Ken Lynn told the meeting: “We were criticised, and rightly so, about the inadequacy of our previous consultation process. This time we got it right.
“It has been said this is all about money. It is not. The £459,000 released by the closure of Kemback Street will better provide for people with learning difficulties.
“It is not about cutting services. It is our duty to ensure we make the best possible use of resources, That is what it is all about.”
Mr Lynn said he recommended closing Kemback Street with “a heavy heart”
He said: “I don’t dispute it has provided a high level of care over many years. Change is never easy, but sometimes it has to happen for the greater good.
“When you look at the strengths and weaknesses of both buildings, I know we cannot continue with both. Kemback Street closing is the right thing to do.”
The vote to close the centre was accompanied by a motion by Mr Lynn that any Kemback Street staff members who transfer to the Wellgate with their service users remain there “for as long as each individual service user needs”.
Earlier in the evening, the meeting heard from three deputations, including the carers’ group, Learning and Disability Scotland and Down’s Syndrome Scotland.
They argued that the overwhelming message from the consultation was that service users and their families did not want the centre to close.
Moira Leck, from Down’s Syndrome Scotland, told the meeting: “‘Keep It Open’ is the war cry. The service users need each other and they need Kemback Street.”