CIVIC chiefs have axed a Hampshire children’s respite centre this afternoon despite 'overwhelming' support for keeping it open.

Hampshire County Council plans to close Merrydale on Church Lane in Kings Worthy, which cares for young people with learning disabilities.

An eight-week consultation in September – which also considered the future of Sunbeams in Aldershot – indicated that the majority of respondents did not want the centre to close.

But following the feedback, it was recommended that both homes will close in Spring 2018.

A findings report to the county council stated 87 percent of respondents had a “strong concern” about the proposal to close Merrydale, either disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.

It also said there was, “a clear view that residential overnight respite provision was necessary.”

A decision is due to be made today by executive lead member for children’s services Keith Mans.

The county council have said neither Merrydale or Sunbeams is a purpose-built care home for children with disabilities and to undertake further adaptations would be at a considerable cost.

Should the two homes close, the county council also say they would be able to reduce costs by around £452,000 per year on the upkeep of buildings and facilities

Merrydale is a 13-bed residential respite home and as of November 1 2017, there were 19 children using the centre with 22 staff.

Campaigners fighting to keep Merrydale open recently held a demonstration in Winchester city centre to garner support for their cause.

The group of families and friends marched up the High Street and collected more than 700 signatures, ending at the Hampshire County Council offices.

Catherine Spencer, from Horton Heath, whose 15-year-old daughter Molly uses the centre, described the news as “very sad.”

She said: “We are disappointed to read the report.

“It acknowledges the opposition to the closure from those who took part in the consultation and those who took the time to write letters and sign our petition and recognises the need for overnight respite but still recommends closure of both Merrydale and Sunbeams.

“We are hoping that those making the final decision will take into consideration the views of those who use these centres and think of those families local to these centres that will need this type of respite in the future.

“It is sad that this seems to boil down to a financial decision which appears to have already been made.We will keep hoping the right decision for our children is made.”

Amanda Batten, CEO of Contact - a charity for families with disabled children- and chairwoman of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, said: “We are bitterly disappointed by the decision to recommend the closure of Merrydale and Sunbeams respite centres. Families who have fought to keep the centres open will be left feeling devastated and fearful for their families' future.

“The council says that they are providing alternatives, but many of these are not suitable for the children who attend Merrydale and Sunbeams – 35 of the most sick and disabled children in the area who require round the clock care. So their families who manage day in day out providing hours and hours of care every week – often emotional and stressful, sometimes physical and backbreaking – are understandably worried that they will be left without support."

"Sadly, this isn't an isolated case and across the country families are facing similar battles. It's vital short breaks services like those offered by Merrydale and Sunbeams remain a priority for local authorities. Their value is clear - as well as being nothing short of a lifeline for many families, they also save the state tens of millions of pounds by supporting parents to continue to look after their disabled children. The alternative crisis interventions, such as a child going to live in full-time residential care are extremely costly – an estimated £149,240 per year per child.

"That's why Contact, along with 50 other charities that form the Disabled Children's Partnership, are calling on the government to review the funding of short breaks services.”