THE woman who helped raise the money to build the Douglas Arter Centre for disabled people has added her voice to the growing opposition against its closure.

Mental health charity Scope wants to shut the residential home saying it is “old fashioned” and the nine severely disabled residents should have “more say” about where they live.

A consultation is due to start next month but the proposal has caused deep distress amongst residents’ families who say there is no alternative nearby.

The money for the Douglas Arter Centre was raised by former Salisbury councillor and founder of the local branch of the Spastic Association (which preceded Scope) Joyce Smith and her daughter Paula.

In the late 1960s they launched a massive fundraising campaign which saw the Salisbury community come together and arrange a host of money spinning events.

“There was a nursery for disabled children up at the hospital but when they got to a certain age they had to leave and there was nowhere else for them to go,” said Paula Smith.

“My mother said we had to do something to make sure they had a home for life and that’s how it started.

“The fundraising was incredible and the whole city got involved; we also got lots of grants and raised nearly £500,000.”

The foundation stone for the Douglas Arter Centre was laid in 1976 and it was named after a Bristol businessman who helped fund the project.

“Local people paid for that building and it was designed to be there in perpetuity,” added Ms Smith.

“I understand things change and there are new ways of thinking but I feel very sorry for the parents whose disabled children call the Douglas Arter Centre home. They are distraught.

“The residents are very severely disabled and they won’t want to move or have to cope with change.

“It perfectly caters for their needs, the staff are wonderful and I really see no reason to close it.”

Scope is looking to shut 11 of its 32 care homes across the country saying disabled people could live as part of a community and have more independence.

It has no plans to close the day centre at the Douglas Arter Centre but almost 40 staff from the residential unit could be made redundant.

A campaign has been launched to save the Douglas Arter Centre but at a relatives’ meeting on Monday Scope bosses said they were pressing ahead with the consultation with a view to shutting the care home early next year.

The charity says it will work with residents’ families and Wiltshire Council to find suitable alternative accommodation for the