COUNCILLORS have voted to close a day centre despite the “overwhelming majority” of its users voting for it to stay.

Plans to close Tower House Day Centre in London Road, Brighton, were approved by councillors at a special policy and resources committee meeting last night.

More than half of the centre’s 72 users told the council consultation they wished to stay at Tower House.

Green convenor Cllr Phelim Mac Cafferty, who voted against the proposal with party colleague Ollie Sykes, said the council had failed to properly explore the option to keep Tower House saying that was what the “overwhelming majority” of centre users wanted.

Council officer Karen Divall said that Tower House users could group together personal budgets to pay for outings to the bingo or to play cards in the pub to replace the centre’s social support and friendship groups.

Cllr Mac Cafferty said: “No proper review of the status quo has happened.

“The review has looked at keeping the centre open for 13 people, but more people use the service.”

Conservative Councillor Ann Norman said: “It is disappointing the council is pulling out of running the service but I do understand the reasons for doing so.”

She added she wished to see the building continuing to be used as a community facility.

Council officers will write to the Tower House freeholder asking to keep the building in community use although they conceded that all efforts to contact the building’s owner during the consultation had been unsuccessful.