PARENTS of children with severe disabilities have been left angry and worried after being told the only home in Salisbury that provides them with respite care is set to be closed.

Wiltshire Council informed parents last week that it plans to shut Hillcote in Manor Road in April next year and their children will either have to travel to the nearest alternative facility in Devizes or go to specialist foster carers instead.

Bernice Jackson, 43, is a full time carer for her 15-year-old son Tyler Green, who has Sturge-Weber syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that means he is brain-damaged, suffers from seizures and is unable to walk or communicate.

She said: “I don’t want him to be far away from me when he goes for respite.

“If he’s in Salisbury and he has a seizure, I can be there in five minutes. To get to Devizes could take an hour.”

Mrs Jackson’s home in Clifton Road, Salisbury, is specially adapted to allow her to care for Tyler, and she doesn’t feel respite foster care would be suitable for him.

“I have hoists and slings and a specially adapted car.

“He’s a 15-year-old lad and he’s the same size as me, I can’t move him otherwise.

“He’s been going to Hillcote for eight years or so and they are lovely. I trust them.

“Tyler can’t communicate at all and if anything happened to him in foster care, I might never know.”

Tanya Dunn’s son Liam is 16 and has been going to Hillcote since he was seven years old.

Liam, who has severe autism, spends every other weekend and two nights a week during the school holidays at the home to give Mrs Dunn and her husband Simon a break.

“It’s a really good place,”

said Mrs Dunn. “The staff are great and Liam doesn’t like change. He’s like a giant toddler and it takes him a long time to get used to new things.

“We need to keep Hillcote open, not just for our children but for children in the future, because there is nothing else like it in this area.”

The mothers say the number of youngsters being cared for at Hillcote has dropped to eight from a high of 21 several years ago because parents are not being told the facility is there and are being pointed in other directions.

They have started a campaign to keep the home open and have set up a facebook page called Save Hillcote.

In a joint statement, Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group said people are being asked for their views ahead of the proposed closure and there will be no cuts to funding.

“The number of families using the service has been in decline, and it is currently used by eight children and young people.

“We understand the potential closure of Hillcote will be a concern to families using the service, and we will meet with them to ensure the needs of their children and families continue to be met.”

The consultation documents are available at wiltshireparentcouncil.co.uk.