CAMPAIGNERS gathered in protest at Rosyth Resource Centre on Saturday in a desperate attempt to save the facility from closure.

Fife Heath and Social Care Partnership made the decision in July to shut the day centre for the elderly, stating that clients wanted more variety in services and user numbers were falling.

However, politicians, councillors, relatives and carers joined together in a bid to get the partnership’s integration joint board (IJB) to rethink.

Rosyth’s three councillors put their political differences aside to fight for their constituents who told them the service was a lifeline and the decision was based on a flawed from two years ago.

Councillor Sam Steele said: “It’s disgraceful! The consultation was supposed to have focus groups but there’s no specific mention of Rosyth Resource Centre in the document at all.

“The partnership really needs to look at its consultation process. They also still tell us that there is no waiting list for the centre even though countless people tell us they want a place. People who use the facility are very passionate and have been vocal about this decision from the start.”

Last week Fife Council’s scrutiny committee unanimously agreed that the consultation was flawed and advised the IJB to review their decision. However, the IJB are independent of the council.

“This is a huge mistake,” said the mother of a service user. “It took six months for my mum to get a place and we’ve recently requested a space for an extra day but obviously that’s not going to go ahead.

“My mum has dementia and has carers coming to the house but she likes to get out. My dad is registered blind so it gives him some respite too. They have suggested that my mum could go to a support group by Alzheimer Scotland, but the service is not even up and running and the centre closes in November.”

Danny Hughes, chair of Rosyth Community Council, said: “The board sat at that public meeting in August and simply did not listen to a word. They had already made up their mind a long time ago. Cllr Tony Orton told us at the protest that he had originally thought the closure was a reasonable proposal, but completely changed his mind when he looked more into it.

“They have also said that the building is not good enough when we know it’s a great building, they just want to sell it off for housing. It’s a despicable process, they are very arrogant.”

Fife Heath and Social Care Partnership promised that the 90 users who attend the centre on Granville Way would be placed in alternative services and transport would be provided.

MSP Annabelle Ewing attended the protest and said: “It is simply wrong to suggest that demand for the services provided by the centre is decreasing as there is a de facto waiting list.

“The 2015 consultation was about general Fife-wide issues and did not specifically address the future of Rosyth Resource Centre. I want to see this process halted and a proper review carried out.”

David Heaney, the partnership’s divisional general manager, said: “We’re working closely with service users, carers and family members to agree what the best solution is for them individually.

“We’ve completed this process with the vast majority of service users and this has been very positive.

“We’ll continue this dialogue with all service users until we have reached agreement on suitable alternatives for everyone. It’s important to stress that alternative day services will be provided to everyone who currently attends Rosyth Resource Centre in a way that best matches their needs.”

More than 2,100 people have signed a petition to stop the closure.