USERS of a mental health day centre have called on City of York Council to clear up whether the centre is under threat or not.

A proposal to close Sycamore House in Clarence Street, to save £190,000, has been included in a list of budget-cutting ideas drawn up by officers, which has gone out for consultation on the Internet and by ward committees.

But council leader Coun Rod Hills has told the Evening Press that the closure of the centre would be unacceptable to the Labour group. He said a ten per cent rise in council tax could be brought in if cuts were not made.

Sean Richardson, a centre user, said: "We're still trying to clarify it. No one's been in touch with us. If they have no intention to shut us at all, why include us in a questionnaire?

"We're on a list with refuse services. That has upset a lot of people as well, as they already feel a stigma attached to mental health.

"For us this whole exercise of consultation seems to be a bit cosmetic.

"Why bother electing councillors if they're going to send out a questionnaire - as elected councillors they have to make difficult decisions.

"In effect we are more confused than ever. We would like to invite Coun Rod Hills, or his spokesman, down to put our minds at rest."

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat councillors said the suggestions for cuts drawn up by officers did not amount to the total saving needed.

Coun Steve Galloway, group leader, said: "Residents should be able to see where these cuts are proposed. The cuts listed on the Internet site amount to a total of £1.3 million. Residents will want to know where the other £2.7 million is to come from."

He said the quality of the consultation would depend on how much information was made available to residents for them to make an informed decision. "Now we are told that the Labour group is not going to pursue various of the social services closures," he said.

But Coun Hills said: "We get criticised for not consulting, now we're getting criticised for consulting. We can't win.

"We have genuinely tried to consult with people about the difficult decisions to be taken by the council.

"We have put up some of the most important issues that are facing us in terms of council tax.

"What I've tried to do since then is say, that as the Labour group, we're not prepared to take that step (of closing Sycamore House)."

He said the reason why the cuts on the website did not add up to £4 million was because only the more important ones had been included.

If Sycamore House residents wrote to him he would reply and give them clarification of his position.

Updated: 10:29 Wednesday, January 23, 2002