Disabled people and their families have mounted a campaign to try to save their “lifeline” day centre.

Bradford Council’s adult services department is facing budget cuts of more than £9 million in 2011/12 and bosses want to axe Whetley Hill Resource Centre at the end of the financial year as part of a savings package.

For 35 years, physically disabled adults have used the centre in Manningham for its range of activities designed to improve their health and well-being.

Now the centre’s 98 registered users and their families, as well as its 21 staff, are to be asked for their views about how a proposed replacement “more personalised” service will work.

Among those battling to keep the centre open is Linda Hetherington, 48, of Denholme. Her son James, 24, who has cerebral palsy, has used the centre for the past eight years.

She said: “I’ve been told that it’s definitely closing, everybody will be reassessed and alternative places will be offered but I was always led to believe there wasn’t anywhere else out there.

“I spoke to someone from Scope and she said there wasn’t any similar provision for people of James’s age.

“Some people have been there for 30-odd years. James has been going since he was 16. He used to go during school holidays and then he went to Keighley College but that finished three years ago. Because of transport issues he couldn’t carry on at the college so he goes there four days a week. If he didn’t go there he would have nothing.

“It’s the companionship he’d miss for a start. He does computing, gardening and photography there. It gives him something to look forward to.

“It’s a disgraceful decision and it’s disgraceful the way they have done it.”

She said users had not yet had any direct contact about the closure from the Council.

Kath Wooller, 64, of Holme Wood, who has been going to the centre since 1992, said the service had transformed her life.

She said: “It’s a major lifeline for me. There’s nothing out there like it. Vulnerable people go there from as far away as Keighley.

“One or two have a carer to assist them all day. I’m worried about these people who otherwise are stuck in the house all day looking at the same four walls. It could lead to mental health problems.”

Mrs Wooller said there were about 120 people a week directly helped by the centre which includes a rehab kitchen to rebuild people’s skills to live independently at home.

“If we close there are carers who’ll have to pack in their jobs because there’ll be no where for the centre users to go. The consequences will be devastating.”

Janet Cuff, 72, co-ordinator of the Bradford physical disability forum Able All, said: “It’s an absolutely fantastic facility. I had Guillain-Barre syndrome 27 years ago and I wish I had somewhere like this to go to then.

“They have exercise bikes which help give strength to people who have no leg muscles. Users more or less run their own hobbies there. They do their own fundraising and they’ve just bought their own TV.

“A lot of disabled people will say they feel secure at home but they also feel more isolated and that’s what a ‘more personalised’ service might mean.”

Councillor Michael Kelly (Con, Craven), the shadow executive member covering adult social care, said is was “quite deplorable” if service users were not being kept fully informed.

He said: “I understand that this is part of a reconfiguration to provide services more locally and involve less travelling which I find to be positive. However I’m entirely sympathetic with the parent of this user if they are not being kept full informed – it’s crucial.”

Janice Simpson, the Council’s assistant director for operational services in the adult and community services department, said: “A decision to review this service has been made with a view to providing a more personalised service for its members.

“The Council will consult with service users and staff throughout the coming months ensuring that their views and comments will help shape the future of the service and that their needs are appropriately met.”

And Councillor Mohammad Amin (Lab, Manningham) insisted no-one would be left worse off by the changes.

He said: “Adult services will be consulting with the service users, carers and staff at the centre. What I understand is that the building is out-of-date. The idea is to provide a personalised service. No-one will be worse off as a result.”