A LAW centre’s future is “down to the wire” after appeals over its axed funding were rejected by councillors.

Members of Greenwich Community Law Centre in Trafalgar Road say its closure will leave a huge hole in the provision of free legal advice in the west of the borough.

Director Sabelo Siwela told News Shopper the decision had left them “in the lurch”, with no time to find transitional funding.

He said: “We’re really down to the wire now. We’re looking at a catastrophe.

“Current funding will only keep us going till November.”

Greenwich Council’s cabinet axed the £196,000 funding last month after deciding other centres could specialise in the various aspects of welfare law.

But that decision was called in for further scrutiny by Conservative leader Cllr Spencer Drury and deputy Cllr Nigel Fletcher.

Cllr Drury expressed concern that legal service would be concentrated in Woolwich and Plumstead, saying not enough detail had been provided on proposed outreach services for Greenwich itself.

Barry Mills, who has worked at the 27-year-old centre since 1990, told last night’s cabinet meeting that axing the funding would lead to more repossessions and lost benefits.

The centre, the only one in the borough to offer immigration law advice, has more than 700 open cases which may now need to be handed over, something Mr Mills said would be “chaotic”.

But council deputy leader Cllr Peter Brooks told the meeting: “There’s no funding for it and we have to make a decision. Times are hard as we all know.”

Leader Cllr Chris Roberts accused law groups of previously forming a “cartel” that kept costs high, and said savings were needed.

Centre user Carol Layne, 35, said afterwards: “The decision was an insult, even though it was expected.

“They’ve really helped me. There are always queues down the road to get in but you’d always get seen.”

The group, which organised a 773-signature petition against the closure, are consulting with lawyers to see if they can appeal.