Judge gives permission for judicial review of social education centre closures

A High Court judge has given permission for campaigners to bring judicial review proceedings over the proposed closure of three social education centres.

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council has taken the decision to close the Conisbrough, Cedar and Thorne centres, which provide adult day care facilities.

The decision was taken as part of efforts to save £109m from the authority’s budget.

The judicial review hearing will take place at the High Court in Leeds on 16 January.

Irwin Mitchell solicitor Katy Cowans, who is advising the campaigners on the challenge, said: “This is the next step in our legal battle to help these vulnerable people protect the services that they feel are essential. 

“It isn't yet clear what the council have done to date to implement the decision to close the social education centres at Conisborough, Thorne and Cedar, especially now that many of the service users from Adwick have been forced to use the facilities at Conisborough whilst their SEC is entirely refurbished following the discovery of asbestos.”

She added: “We are now busy preparing for the judicial review in the High Court when we hope the decision to close the centres will be quashed.”

Doncaster Council has been asked for comment.