CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep a disabled resource centre from closing have taken their protest to County Hall.

More than 60 regular visitors to Dartford’s Queen Elizabeth Foundation (QEF) Resource Centre went to Kent County Council County Hall, in Maidstone, armed with placards on Tuesday.

They were protesting about the proposed closure of the Brent Way centre and the loss of the help, advice and activities it offers for 161 people with physical disabilities.

The group, which was made up of centre users from Dartford, Gravesend, Swanley and Medway, also presented a petition to the council complete with more than 5,000 signatures.

Protesters now have their sights set on a trip to Downing Street to take their fight to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Linda and Eric Lawrence, from Chatham, helped organise the rally. Mrs Lawrence, 57, volunteers at the QEF centre every Wednesday and Thursday, working on reception. She says she has had to turn away countless new referrals because of the uncertainty over the resource centre’s future.

Mrs Lawrence cares for her husband, 59, who has been a regular there for almost 20 years since having a stroke in 1994.

The pair met at the centre a few years ago and got married there last year.

Mrs Lawrence said: “We had a really good turnout at the protest. People came from all areas and I really think we got our message across.

“We were putting across our point that there’s no talking going on. The council is just dictating to us. There are so many people who use this place. It’s going to be devastating to lose it.”

The council has earmarked the centre for closure in June, but has said it will replace it with drop-in services across north Kent. These will be used as 'social networking’ bases for people with disabilities.

But users are concerned that this will signal the loss of the many activities currently offered by the centre, such as a specialist gym, and arts and crafts.

Do you use the resource centre? Will you be affected by the closure? If so, please write or email your views to Dartford Messenger, 7 High Street, Dartford DA11 OBQ or dartfordmessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk