A DELEGATION of CAMPAIGNERS last night urged Bradford Council to rethink plans to axe a valued health service.

The council’s ruling Labour group is planning to decommission Health on the Streets (Hots) as part of a wider programme of cuts.

The Hots team was formed to bring health services right into the heart of the communities of Eccleshill, Ravenscliffe, Thorpe Edge, Thackley, Idle, Greengates and Fagley.

Based at Eccleshill Clinic, it takes health services to non-traditional settings like community centres to help with things like breastfeeding, support to stopping smoking and weight management and midwifery services among other things.

But Bradford Council’s ruling Labour group is planning to decommission the service, saying it wants to “eliminate duplication”.

A group yesterday urged them to reconsider the idea, handing in a petition signed by more than 500 people.

One of the petitioner, John Sheen, the manager of Thorpe Edge Community Project, said they were shocked to learn of the plan to decommission “one of the most effective health services we have ever worked with”.

He said instead of cutting the service, the Council should be rolling it out to the rest of the district “so that many more people can benefit”.

The Council agreed to refer the matter to its decision-making executive for further consideration.

Afterwards, ward councillor Geoff Reid (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) said: “When this petition goes to the Executive, I hope that they will ensure that we do not slip backwards by losing the sense of urgency which has fuelled this work in recent years.”

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