Mental health patients have urged councillors to rethink controversial budget plans which they claim could force sufferers into hospital.

City of York Council members were asked to drop plans to save £17,500 by cutting back at Clarence Street Day Centre.

The warning is in reaction to proposals to close the centre on Sundays, and down-grade the centre's only occupational therapist.

It came as the council's budget proposals - which also include a seven per cent council tax rise - passed their final hurdle before the budget meeting next week.

User representative Robin McIlroy said: "This is the only service available to mental health customers at the weekend and, to many customers, this is the equivalent of A and E at the District Hospital. Would you shut that service?

"In many respects, disabled people are the weakest links and, as such, an easy target."

User Graham Heppell said: "What happens if somebody needs help at the weekend? There is nowhere else to go and they could end up in hospital."

The council Executive member for social services, Bob Fletcher, said: "The mere existence of this centre is proof that we don't view people with mental health problems in this light."

And he promised to meet user representatives before the budget meeting on February 15.

Members of the council's approvals social services committee also heard opposition to plans to cut council grants to the disabled shopping scheme Shopmobility, which is based in Coppergate.

Diana Dickson, Coppergate manager and chairman of the scheme, said: "This is a charity which makes a huge difference to ordinary people."

Other budget proposals include a social services shake-up, with job cuts and re-duced services, and raised charges for car parks and the crematorium.

Last night's committee recommended that the proposals should be accepted.

Liberal Democrat and Conservative members chose not to voice their views until the budget meeting.

But Liberal Democrat leader Steve Galloway said the budget process should be more open.

He said: "A lack of consultation may be an area of concern for us."

Updated: 08:48 Wednesday, February 07, 2001