The axe has fallen on Paton Street Community Centre after campaigners lost their fight to save it by a single vote

Mum of two Jackie McPherson - who has been battling to reopen the fire-damaged facility - attended the crunch education and communities committee meeting and said she was 'gutted' by the closure decision, which went through by six votes to five.

Councillor Natasha Murphy, who had supported the campaign to keep the centre open, voted to close it.

Jackie, 38, said: "I am totally heartbroken.

"I thought the councillors were going to be behind us.

"It's a complete kick in the teeth and we feel betrayed.

"Natasha did support the campaign and there was no indication she was going to vote this way.

"It would have stayed open if she hadn't voted to close it."

A survey conducted in the area came out in favour of retaining the Grieve Road Community Centre, which is in the same ward.

Hundreds of people were surveyed by the council's community learning and development department.

Staff knocked doors, spoke to people outside shops and used social media and held two drop-in meetings and left surveys in shops.

A total of 200 people returned the surveys and almost two thirds of people listed Grieve Road as their preferred centre.

But Jackie, who had set up a management committee to run Paton Street, said: "I feel the survey wasn't very fair and biased towards Grieve Road.

"They can't expect Grieve Road to run as a community centre at the moment.

"It's not fit for purpose - there's only one room and it doesn't have a management committee.

"I feel the council had already made their decision and used the survey to justify it."

Councillor Murphy told the Tele it was a very tough decision to make and she based it on the consultation results.

She added: "The consultation shows that out of the three major community centre areas the Bow Road area responded the most.

"As a representative of the whole area I have to take the results from this consultation.

"Ward 7 has not had a good community facility in over two and a half years - Paton Street has been closed since the fire back then and Grieve Road although still operational is not entirely fit for purpose.

"I asked for an internal reconfiguration and redecoration to ensure that the community have a vibrant, fit for purpose hub.

"The people of the ward deserve to have access to the best possible facilities and I hope investment in Grieve Road will show them that we care about them as a community.

"My colleagues, by voting to reopen Paton Street, were inadvertently voting to close Grieve Road - something that by public consultation is not wanted.

"It was the best decision in a horrible situation."

Councillor Tommy McVey had also fought to keep the facility open and said he was 'bitterly disappointed' about the decision.

He added: "I wasn’t happy to approve closure until we had guarantees on design, funding and a management committee in Grieve Road because if none of that is available we could have no community facilities in Ward 7 in the very near future.

"I was totally aghast when Councillor Murphy proposed the motion to close the Paton Street Centre.

"Myself, Councillor Murphy and Councillor Crowther met the Paton Street management committee several times and were all supportive of their efforts to keep the centre open. "Indeed we were the ones who accepted their 500 signature petition outside the town buildings."

The survey asked people to rank their preferences and 60.6 per cent of those polled said Grieve Road was their first choice, 33.3 per cent preferred Paton Street and 23.3 picked a hall in Fancy Farm.

The council report said: "The survey results indicate a strong preference for the existing provision at Grieve Road to be maintained, with limited support in maintaining the provision at Fancy Farm.

"Paton Street had a loyalty from previous users who were keen to maintain their centre but not in the numbers anticipated."