THE campaign to save Hillcote respite home from closure is gathering momentum.

Parents whose children have severe disabilities and attend the threatened home on Manor Road in Salisbury have met with Wiltshire Council and Salisbury MP John Glen to explain how the closure of Hillcote would affect them.

An online petition is also being set up and a Facebook campaign called Save Hillcote has the support of more than 630 people.

The campaign to save Hillcote is being lead by Bernice Jackson and Tanya Dunn whose sons Tyler and Liam have severe disabilities and go to the home for regular respite care to give their parents a desperately needed break.

“We have been amazed and really encouraged by the amount of support we have had already to save Hillcote,” said Mrs Dunn.

“We are not going to give up and are prepared to fight this all the way.”

Wiltshire Council has informed parents that it plans to shut Hillcote next April and children will have to go to a similar facility in Devizes or specialist foster carers.

Currently eight young people receive respite care at Hillcote but it has been able to accommodate 21 disabled children in the past.

“Over the last few years they haven’t been telling people about Hillcote and just sending them to Devizes and that is why the numbers have dropped,” said Mrs Dunn.

“It’s such a shame because it is a wonderful place with great staff and I think it should be better used, not shut down to save money.”

Mrs Dunn’s 16-year-old son Liam has severe autism and has been going to Hillcote since he was seven years old.

Mrs Jackson’s son Tyler Green, 15, has the rare neurological disorder Sturge-Weber syndrome which means he suffers from seizures and is unable to walk or communicate.

“While we do need respite care, we do not want them to be an hour away from us in Devizes in case there is an emergency,” said Mrs Dunn.

“This whole thing has been incredibly upsetting and stressful but we are going to carry on fighting.”

Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Joint Clinical Commissioning Group say that people are being asked for their views ahead of the proposed closure and there will be no cuts to funding.

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