Campaigners say they feel cheated by planners who allowed a new development for the elderly in Oxford to go ahead without provision for a day centre.

When Osney Court closed in Botley Road in 1999 residents began a campaign to ensure that the replacement for the county council-run old people's home included accommodation for the elderly, plus a day centre for them to use.

Work began last year on the new development, including 10 houses and 34 flats, with at least 20 leasehold flats for pensioners, and they are due to open in February.

Keith Eddey, from the Osney Court Action Group, said: "One of our key aims was to get some accommodation for the elderly on site, instead of just yuppie housing and we have at least achieved that.

"But the planning officers have chosen to use delegated powers to reduce the space available for a day centre, which is a matter of great substance and should not have been left to the officers. It's a far from satisfactory outcome."

Susanna Pressel, Labour city councillor for Jericho and Osney, said: "I believe senior planning officers may have abused the democratic process. They appear to have ignored the will of the people and the specific instructions of city councillors."

John Power, Labour county councillor for Oxford West, is expected to make an official complaint to the city council over the matter.

At a meeting of the city council's central, south and west area committee earlier this month, Michael Crofton-Briggs, head of planning, said in a report that it was too late to make changes to provide a day centre because construction work was now complete. He was not available for further comment.

Debbie Pack, a spokesman for Warden Housing, said: "The scheme is due for completion in February 2005. Warden will not be able to comment on the day centre facility until the new year."