“COME and hear what we have to say.”

That’s the challenge issued to civic chiefs by a group of determined demonstrators hoping to save Kentish Road Respite Centre from closure.

The protestors will ride a campaign bus on Saturday in a last ditch attempt to convince Southampton City Council not to slash the “vital” service to save £300,000 a year.

The group will host an open day outside the centre, which is used by people with disabilities and illnesses to give their carers and family members a break from care.

Amanda Guest, whose daughter Victoria regularly uses Kentish Road, said: “We just want councillors to listen to us.”

Alongside the bus, donated by Eastleigh based company Xelabus, the protestors will cut-out pictures of service users with tape slapped over their mouths.

Protestors say that five councillors have already announced their intention to attend the event, including Putting People First chief, Keith Morrell and Conservative leader, Jeremy Moulton.

However the demonstration, which is set to take place just outside the centre from 4pm to 7pm, has not received universal support.

A council spokesperson said: “The very limited information received about the proposed event suggests that we would not be able to guarantee that the right steps had been taken to safeguard participants or those being cared for at Kentish Road.

“We have therefore not given our permission for the proposed event to go ahead on council land.”

Civic chiefs are set to reconsider Kentish Road respite centre on November 14.

Meanwhile, it will now not close at the end of October, with bookings being taken until the end of November.