COUNCIL bosses will make a final decision on whether or not to close a Kidderminster respite centre for disabled youngsters in public following pressure from worried parents.

Ludlow Road Short Breaks Unit’s future will be decided by Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet at a meeting on July 12, with recommendations set out in papers being released a week before.

Originally Councillor Andy Roberts, cabinet member for families, was expected to use delegated powers to make the decision.

But the Wyre Life site, run by independent journalist Jane Haynes, revealed families and campaigners fighting the proposed closure had won a battle for it to be debated publicly. A final meeting will also be held with parents on July 9.

A letter to families sent last week said: “These are important and detailed decisions involving services that are provided both by the county council itself and our provider (Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust) and that it is essential that the decision-making process is transparent and robust.”

Amanda Danby, whose 10-year-old son Mason attends the unit, told Wyre Life that she was very pleased the decision would be open to full public scrutiny.

Earlier this year, the council launched a consultation into the future of Ludlow Road, with one option being to close it and use more “cost effective” units elsewhere.

This prompted a storm of protest and a campaign to save the unit, led by Wyre Forest Labour group was launched.

Last month, Labour’s Stephen Brown accused the Tory-led authority of financial incompetence after it was revealed Ludlow Road costs £160,000 less to run than the £624,215 the council allocates to the NHS to run it on its behalf.

The council has also come in for stinging criticism over the consultation process and were even warned they could face legal action over it.

Councillor Fran Oborski, who chaired a Scrutiny Task Group looking into the issue, slammed the consultation as “haphazard and confused”.