A "vital" mental health centre in Harrow has been saved after nearly 1,800 people signed a petition opposing its closure.
The Bridge, which provides one-to-one support, group therapy and music and arts sessions for people with mental illnesses, had been earmarked for closure by Harrow Council .
But the Labour administration made a U-turn after 1,775 people signed an online petition started by Harrow Council Conservatives .
The council announced on Friday (April 29) that an "innovative model" for a raft of new mental health services at the venue in Christchurch Avenue, Harrow, would enable it to remain open "for years to come".
The centre, which has around 200 clients, will be run by the council in partnership with the community under the new model which was drawn up following public consultation.
'I have come to understand this is a lifeline to many'
Harrow Council leader Cllr David Perry said: "Supporting the most vulnerable people in Harrow has always been my first priority and it is only right that one of our last decisions with me as leader will be to protect vital mental health services in Harrow.
"I have personally visited the Bridge and come to understand this is a lifeline to many and that service users rely on the activities there to improve their quality of life.
"With mental health facilities closing across the country due to devastating government cuts to councils, I am immensely proud that we have found a long term and sustainable future for The Bridge, after tireless work by campaigners and council staff."
Conservative councillor Susan Hall, who started the petition in February, described the centre at the time as a "vital lifeline" and called plans to close it a "disgrace".
Following the u-turn she told getwestlondon: "I must congratulate the campaigners who have shown extraordinary dedication in showing just how valued the services provided at the Bridge are.
"This is absolutely the right decision, but it's completely unacceptable that so many vulnerable service users were put through months of worry because the administration didn’t think this through in the first place and then ran a spectacularly bad consultation which only made things worse.
"It is vital that this new model is able to provide the level of service that the users need and expect, and that the council learns from the series of mistakes it made before finally doing the right thing."
'I feel total relief'
Louise Mitchell, who uses The Bridge and had campaigned to save the centre, welcomed the council's volte-face.
She said: "I feel total relief. I've been going to The Bridge every day for 18 years – it gives me a reason to get up in the morning, gives me a place to go and gives me the support I need to stay well.
"The Bridge is like a home from home."
The Save The Bridge Campaign group said it had been "inspirational" to see people coming together to save the centre.
"The campaign has built up a fantastic team, which bodes well for the future working in partnership with the council in its new service model. This is just the beginning," it added.
The Bridge was one of many council services proposed for closure by Harrow Council, which said it was facing £83m of government cuts.
Under the new plans, service providers and clients at the centre will form a steering group to develop a tender for voluntary sector organisations to run services there.
getwestlondon has contacted Cllr Hall for a comment.
