DAY centre user Gary Pockett, who is blind and has learning difficulties, is taking the county council to the High Court over a decision to close the Dursley Training Unit.

Despite a 7,000-strong petition opposing the closure of the DTU Gloucestershire County Council decided to go ahead with its plan to shut it, which was part of its ‘Meeting the Challenge’ programme to save the authority millions of pounds.

But Gary, with the help of his brother Chris, is not willing to give up and has drafted in the help of specialist medical negligence lawyers, Goodmans Law Ltd, to fight the case on the grounds that the council failed to have "due regard" under the Equality Act 2010 for the care needs of residents at the DTU.

Gary, who also uses a hearing aid and suffers from epilepsy, is seeking the council’s acceptance that the decision to close the DTU was unlawful and is calling for the decision to be revoked immediately and for the unit to continue to be funded.

Chris, of Wotton, who has led the DTU campaign on behalf of his brother from the beginning, said he was willing to do whatever it took to keep the unit open for his brother.

"Throughout our campaign, we have maintained that closure of the DTU would be a life changing decision that would negatively impact a group of disabled adults for the rest of their lives," he said.

"We do not take this action lightly, but the stakes are very high for my brother Gary and the other users of the centre and we must therefore do everything that we can to protect the future wellbeing of one of the most vulnerable groups in our community."

Gary’s solicitors have sent a letter to the council notifying them of his itent to start legal proceedings but has, as yet, not received a response.

Ian Cohen, director of Goodmans Law Ltd, said: "This is clearly a measure designed to make savings in the authority’s social care funding.

"It appears that insufficient thought has been given to the needs of those attending Dursley Training Unit.

"Unless Gloucestershire County Council carefully reconsiders its position by June 20, High Court action will follow to protect Gary’s position and the quality of life of the other disabled adults who attend the centre."

The council said it had received the letter and would "look at it closely".