PLANS to close a respite centre for vulnerable residents in Hampshire will go before council chiefs next week.

A final decision on the future of the John Darling Mall respite centre will be made by the county council’s adult social care chief on November 25.

Residents have campaigned against the potential closure, saying it would hit vulnerable people and deprive the community of a “vital” facility.

As previously reported, county chiefs are considering the closure as they look to make £98m of cuts next year alone in the face of a reduction in their grant from the government.

The centre is used to look after adults with physical disabilities and provide their carers with respite.

A council report shows that 39 people used it regularly in 2014/15 with respite provided for up to 18 people at any one time.

Six rooms at the centre are also leased to Stonewater Housing Association and five are currently occupied.

The council says that it is now not able to offer modern facilities and that it would cost £5m to refurbish it.

If approved the closure, which would happen by the end of March, would save the council £370,000 a year.

There are currently 23 members of staff working at the facility, which the council says equates to 16 full-time jobs.

The council says six have already taken voluntary redundancy while it will try to find alternative roles within the council for the others affected.

However, the plans have proved controversial with 70 per cent of the 102 people who took part in consultations opposing its closure.

A petition also gathered more than 500 signatures and service users gathered at the home in Boyatt Wood earlier this year to protest against the plans.

Service user Hannah Buchanan, who has cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic, described it as a “vital service” while the Rev Iain McFarlane, priest from the nearby St Peter’s Church, who led the campaign, said: “The bottom line is that I personally believe that they are forcing cuts upon the most vulnerable in the community who frankly aren’t going to be able to fight back.”

The council says that if the centre does close nothing will happen until alternative support is found for the people using the centre.

County council executive member for adult social care Liz Fairhurst will make a decision on its future on November 25.

She said: “Being able to access the right respite support is extremely important for people living with disabilities and those who care for them.

“Demand for respite care across Hampshire is changing, particularly among younger adults who are often looking for alternatives to traditional residential respite placements.

“I will be carefully considering the proposals before making any decisions, and wanting to ensure that there is appropriate choice available for respite support. Also, that the needs of adult social care clients are taken fully into account.”