A last-ditch attempt to save a centre which has given people with mental health problems a safe place to work has fallen at the first hurdle.

Kingston councillor Mary Clark was trying to get the wheels in motion for an appeal to health secretary Alan Johnson challenging the closure of Springboard.

But her fellow politicians baulked at an appeal after being told they could be scaring off the charities who will pick up the pieces.

Primary Care Trust chief executive David Smith, called to the meeting to explain his organisation's decision to pull the plug, produced a letter from Kingston Furniture Project, Kingston Voluntary Action and Mind suggesting a delay could lead them to walk away.

Coun Paul Johnston who was at Tuesday evening's meeting told the Surrey Comet he was not altogether convinced by the guarantees, adding: "I did think very seriously about an appeal.

"I wouldn't want to jeopardise the relationship with Kingston Volunteer Action and other providers and run the risk of us ending up with nothing at all."

The Springboard building which was only opened in 2004 will be closed and clients and staff evicted as soon as Kingston Primary Care Trust has made arrangements for the three charities to take on the clients.

An action group which will include carers and a representative of the people who use the centre has been set up to ensure none of the Springboard clients suffer from the changes.