DETERMINED campaigners have vowed to fight tooth and nail to stop a Worcestershire respite centre for disabled children from being closed.

Worcestershire County Council has begun a consultation with users of Ludlow Road Short Breaks Unit, in Kidderminster, to discuss the future of the service that gives parents of disabled children and young people respite from providing care.

But one of the options being considered is axing the centre, which the authority provides more than £618,000 per year to Worcestershire Health and Care Trust to run on its behalf.

Members of Wyre Forest Labour have launched a petition outlining opposition to the plans.

Ben Davies, who is leading the campaign alongside his Labour colleague Vincent O’Callaghan, said: “The news of a consultation for the Ludlow Road NHS with a view to closing it just to satisfy yet more Conservative cuts is, regrettably, a major threat to children and young people who require such services.

“The centre houses children between the ages of three to 18-years-old, children with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and complex health needs.

“Closing this would put young, vulnerable people in immediate danger as the centre gives important short break services.

“I will campaign on behalf of Labour with Vincent to try and ensure this local service remains open to those who need it.”

Stephen Brown, also of Wyre Forest Labour added: “I’ll bet that not a single Tory councillor in Wyre Forest stands up for this facility, they only know how to asset strip.

“Our local Tories have been and are more interested in holding multiple jobs at district, county, in the MP’s office, and even in the Police Commissioner’s Office prolonging their own gravy train than protecting services.”

Councillor Andy Roberts, cabinet member for children and families, said: "The welfare of children, young people and families is our top priority.

"The county council recognises services can be delivered better in the future and that is why members of cabinet agreed to launch a consultation as part of the review and commissioning of short breaks provision.

"During the consultation we'll be offering to speak to each family individually to find out their thoughts on the proposals to redesign the services, including understanding if and how they might want services to be provided differently. We will also be speaking to professionals and other partners about the proposals.

"As part of the consultation a number of different options will be looked at so we can continue to provide respite for families, including providing suitable overnight respite through other provision or methods.

“One of the options being looked at is potentially ceasing the use of Ludlow Road Short Breaks Unit which is run by Worcestershire Health and Care Trust.

"The consultation will run for a minimum of six weeks and we'll make a final decision in March 2018 at the earliest."

Labour’s petition can be accessed here: https://www.change.org/p/worcestershire-county-council-save-ludlow-road-short-breaks-respite-centre?recruiter=309439121&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive&utm_term=triggered