USERS of an axed children's respite centre need a guarantee that alternative care will be provided before it closes, say Liberal Democrat councillors.

As reported in the Chronicle, Hampshire County Council will close Merrydale in Kings Worthy, which cares for young people with learning disabilities.

But Cllr Jackie Porter said there would be a challenge, known as a call-in, to ensure that every parent was satisfied that alternative arrangements were in place before it closed.

Cllr Porter is leading a team of councillors - Malcolm Wade, Gavin James, Wayne Irish and Michael Westbrook - to call in the county council decision to shut the centre on May 31. They hope the review will take place in the next few weeks.

An eight-week consultation in September, which also considered the future of Sunbeams in Aldershot, indicated the majority of respondents (87 percent) had "strong concern" about the closure of Merrydale.

But last week, the decision was made by executive lead member for children's services Keith Mans following a vote in favour of the recommendation by the children and young people select committee, which was met with with shouts of "shame" from the public.

Cllr Porter said: "We were appalled to hear that although 87 percent of respondents to the consultation had disagreed with the closure of the two centres, their view was considered not to be so relevant because bosses felt that they didn't understand the alternatives would be better.

"We know that respite care is so precious to parents and siblings. We want to make sure that there is no break in provision and that parents don't miss out on money or time. The call in asks for a guarantee on these points for current users. We will continue to fight for a good service for future users too.

"We had hoped for cross party support for this, but I believe that the Conservatives are so keen to see the Merrydale site cleared for development that they are ignoring the plight of families and children using it.

"Cornerways has been empty for more than four years. With adults waiting to get out of hospital, and others in need of housing, it is terrible to see empty accommodation going to waste."

On decision day, Cllr Mans said a regular report was to be produced showing whether parents had found suitable alternative accommodation, including transport provision.

He said: " I believe that the children and families needing respite care should receive the best possible support that we can offer, within the funding that is available.

"There are substantial costs associated with keeping these buildings and facilities up to standard and fit for purpose, and it is my view that this money can be put to better use.

"I am reassured that the 35 children, and their families, who will be directly affected by this decision will continue to have access to overnight residential respite care from a range of high quality, independent providers."

"In the new service model, they will also have the opportunity to select other types of respite care to provide them and their families with the breaks that they need, and that will suit them best, just like many other children with disabilities in Hampshire.

"While I acknowledge that some of those families will be disappointed with this decision, I am confident that they will be able to agree, with their social worker, a new and alternative package of respite care that will continue to meet their particular needs. This will include a carefully managed transition plan that will help the children and their families to adjust, as comfortably and conveniently as possible, to any changes.

"Reviewing how children's services are delivered is part of the county council's work to maintain vital services amid ongoing and significant financial pressures.

"We have had to make some very difficult decisions resulting from reduced funding from central government, and growing demand for services. This decision has been no exception."

Gail Bedding, CEO of Hampshire Parent Carer Network, said: “We applaud the county council for including us in discussions about the remodelling of overnight respite from the beginning. We were glad to be asked for our opinions, because we are the experts; we live and breathe this life.

"Sadly, no one has listened to our views. Right from the start we made it clear that parents would want to be clear about other options before agreeing to closures, not afterwards. But Hampshire has now said they will close Merrydale and Sunbeams with no clear alternative strategy in place.”