ANGRY users of the threatened Redi Centre in Smallwood are to lobby the council hard to stop job cuts and save services.

The South Street centre, which provides adult education and employment training, has been threatened for the second time in a year because of possible Redditch Council budget cuts.

Staff have been warned they may lose their jobs and some aspects of the service transferred to NEW College.

At an emergency meeting attended by Redi users, volunteers and supportive councillors last week, all agreed the main threat was to the crche.

Redi user Mark Scannell said: "If the crche goes, then that will mean a lot of people, myself included, will not be able to attend courses."

Most agreed one of the Redi Centre's main attributes - its character and ethos - was under threat. Former councillor Ron Passingham said the idea of the centre was as an employment initiative to get people into work.

People felt this was just as important as educational courses and may not be a service other agencies could recreate.

Councillor James Uphill stressed the centre was not about to close. He said the decision had yet to be made and depending on how councillors voted, it need not happen. A decision on the cuts is due to be made by the council on October 20.