A DAY centre for severely disabled people once again faces an uncertain future after plans to investigate its possible closure were given the go-ahead.

Worcestershire County Council has decided to take another look at the future of Pershore Day Centre, even though it lost a high court ruling earlier this year.

The council decided to close the centre in Station Road at the beginning of last year. Although a High Court judge did not say seeking to close it was wrong, the county council was condemned for a lack of information it provided during the initial process.

Losing the case is believed to have cost the council about £60,000.

At a County Hall cabinet meeting opposition Liberal Democrat leader councillor Liz Tucker said: “The parents of the users have been through hell and back over the last two years. Now they have the prospect of it continuing.”

Under the plans to develop options for the centre’s future officers will look at whether to close it or redesign it.

They will also see how much it would cost to maintain it in light of the council’s current financial position – it needs to make £45 million savings over the next four years.

Conservative Councillor Mary Drinkwater said the reason why there were so few users of Pershore Day Centre was because of the plans to close it the council had not been referring anyone to it.

She said: “I’m sure it would be a different place if it was used to maximum capacity.”

Conservative councillor Adrian Hardman, cabinet member for finance, said: “These clients have been together for a very long time and have a unique inter-dependency on each other. I trust the report will reflect this relationship because I would think moving them into different locations would have quite an effect.”

John Bradley, treasurer of the Friends of Pershore Day Centre – speaking after the meeting – said: “I was encouraged by the support from some of the Conservative councillors because we have never had that before.

“I was heartened by that.”

Mr Bradley, whose son Mark has used the day centre for many years, was worried the option of redesigning the centre would cost the cash-strapped council too much money.

He said: “They didn’t seem to mention just filling the place up. They have starved the place of referrals for years.”

A further report will be submitted to cabinet in due course setting what the preferred option is and to seek authorisation to go out to consultation.