AHEAD of a demonstration this Saturday, a motion has been passed at Fife Council stating that the consultation on the proposal to close Rosyth Resource Centre was flawed.

It was unanimously agreed by the scrutiny committee, which met on Tuesday after being asked to look at the decision to shut the day centre for the elderly.

Rosyth councillors have been campaigning to halt the closure of the facility at Granville Way – a decision taken by the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership.

Annabelle Ewing MSP and Douglas Chapman MP have opposed the move, a petition launched by Councillor Sam Steele has gathered more than 2,000 signatures and a crowd of protesters are expected at the centre at 11am on Saturday for a demonstration.

Danny Hughes, Chair of Rosyth Community Council, said: “Despite the huge level of public concern expressed at the meeting with the health and social care representatives, it seems that they are completely indifferent to our views.

“That meeting was pure lip-service. Obvious untruths were pointed out to them regarding their so- called consultation process but they are steam-rolling ahead. Rosyth Community Council is frankly disgusted by their behaviour and will back any action to fight the closure of such an important resource.”

The decision to close the centre led to a packed public meeting in Rosyth last month and the matter was taken to the South West Fife area committee. Councillors then referred the issue to the scrutiny committee and their motion on Tuesday criticised the inadequate consultation and recommended a rethink over the closure.

The Fife Health and Social Care Partnership is independent of Fife Council and can still choose to go ahead and close the centre.

Rosyth councillor Tony Orton, who sits on the scrutiny committee, said: “The council does not control the partnership but it is a strong recommendation that was supported by all councillors. However, it is not binding.

“We hope that the director and their staff will withdraw the proposal.”

The accountability of the partnership was previously called into question by Councillor Alice McGarry, when she attacked the decision to close the centre.

Rosyth councillor Andrew Verecchia added: “The fact that this motion was passed unanimously underlines what we in Rosyth have said all along.

“This proposal is flawed and it is my fervent hope that the decision makers on the board will look again and reconsider this decision. We are not going to let this drop.”

Service user Susan Kerr hit out at the decision and said: “It is terrible that the resource centre is closing – both for my father and the staff who work there.

“It’s the only opportunity my 89 year-old father gets that takes him away from his sheltered housing and gives him support, stimulation and socialisation.

“The consultation that was carried out seems to have been in title only since no real discussions have taken place with me or my father and up until a few months ago there was always a waiting list for the centre.

“It seems ridiculous that when the need is increasing for this type of resource that it is being closed.”