PARENTS who have fought to save a children’s respite centre in Hereford say they are 'disappointed, saddened and concerned' about the future now that a date has been set for its closure.

The fight to keep No 1 Ledbury Road open began in 2015 when the facility was earmarked for closure in March 2016 – but it received a ‘stay of execution’ for one year following a campaign.

However, Herefordshire Council’s contract with Wye Valley NHS Trust (WVT) to run the service will end on March 31, with WVT having advised of its intention not to tender for any aspect of the overnight short breaks provision after the contract ended.

Although the council has commissioned alternative short breaks services – including overnight residential breaks – parents say two of the services are not yet set-up with staff or Ofsted registration.

This, they say, means it is increasingly likely there will be a gap in provision and that there will be no opportunity for children to have a planned and meaningful transition – as promised – from the existing Ledbury Road service to a new one.

In a statement, parents involved in the Save No 1 Ledbury Road campaign, who say they have worked 'tirelessly' with the council, said: "It now appears that, in spite of having had an additional 12 months to secure alternative residential short breaks provision for the county’s most vulnerable children, everything has once again been left to the last minute.

"In spite of parents warning the local authority (LA) that the re-commissioning process would need to begin ASAP in order to secure appropriate alternative provision, and to allow time for children to transition from the existing Ledbury Road service to any new respite service, the process did not begin until autumn 2016.

"As a result of this delay, it is now likely that, following the closure of No1 Ledbury Road on March 31, some children and families (including some with the most complex and challenging needs) will have no access to residential short breaks within the local authority."

A spokesman for Herefordshire Council said it had been working closely with children with disabilities and their families to ensure they have a good range of day and short break opportunities available after April 2017, including overnight residential care and a family based sleepover service.

“New service providers have entered the short breaks market over the last year and the list of confirmed short breaks options offers more choice than before,” the spokesman said.

“Where a provider has decided to withdraw from the short breaks market, we continue to work with families to ensure their child can transfer to new arrangements that can meet their needs.

“All families currently using 1 Ledbury Road have been offered opportunities to work with council staff to look at the most appropriate support for them from April. We will also continue to work with providers to further enhance the range of services that are available.”

Wye Valley NHS Trust added it was working with families to enable a smooth transition to the new providers and will continue to deliver a child and family centred service until provision ends on March 31.