AN East Oxford advice centre for Chinese people could close if Oxford City Council bosses cut a vital grant.

Oxfordshire Chinese Community and Advice Centre (OCCAC) in Princes Street received a grant of £49,703 in 2010/2011 but will get just £18,000 this year.

This would only cover the cost of the renting its premises in East Oxford Community Centre.

On Monday, a petition with 3,674 signatures will be presented to councillors.

The petition said: “We are extremely concerned that many non-English speaking Chinese will suffer if OCCAC does not receive sufficient funding.

“Without the necessary grant aid the centre will be faced with the imminent closure of a specialist bilingual advice service, which has been a lifeline for the Chinese community for over 19 years.”

The council said its clients, 352 in 2009/10, represent a “very high cost” to the council and a consultation among the Chinese community criticised opening hours, which are restricted to Mondays.

But Nuala Young, Green city councillor for St Clement’s ward, said: “Advice workers help people in the Chinese community who are vulnerable including the elderly and young people.

“Some Chinese people struggle to read English and advice workers help them with their language problems.”

The centre received £63,676 from Oxfordshire County Council this year and £4,000 from the city council’s east area parliament.

Councillors will debate the petition at today’s meeting at the town hall in St Aldate’s at 5pm.