A RESPITE care centre for people with learning disabilities has been saved from closure following a cabinet decision.

The centre, in Trumpington Road, was faced with being axed after a Liberal Democrat move to include the proposal to close it down in an upcoming public consultation.

But Labour councillors moved not to include the proposal as an option in the consultation, at a cabinet meeting on July 7.

Councillor Terry Wheeler said: “Carers and families of people with severe learning disabilities deserve our support.

“Labour councillors demonstrated that support at the Cabinet meeting by ensuring that the Liberal Democrat proposal to consult on closing the centre was removed.”

Councillor Marie Pye added: "We need to have a conversation with carers and people with learning disabilities about exactly what kind of care and support they need.

“That conversation is not possible with the threat hanging over them of their centre being closed.”

A three-month consultation on alternative respite care provision, as well as the future of the centre, will now take place.

Service users and their families will be asked to consider whether the centre should operate at a reduced level or should be left as it is, but more widely promoted.

The original consultation was set to include a proposal to close the centre altogether and move the service to a smaller unit, as it is currently under-utilised.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr John Macklin said: "It was about making sure the consultation was genuine and having that sentence in there would have given the wrong impression.

"If it looks like people want the centre to close, then we are happy to have another consultation."

He said it would first be necessary to consult on alternative provision before consulting on the centre's closure.

However, he added that it is usual practice to include possible future outcomes in reports to cabinet, including closing facilities.

"We wanted to make the report much tidier," he said.

Cllr Macklin will now visit the centre with Cllr James O'Rourke to gauge opinion from service users.