PARENTS campaigning to stop a children’s respite care home from closing are celebrating after the proposed alternative provision was withdrawn.

Parents of children with special needs who attend Wilbury House in Letchworth GC protested at plans by Herts County Council to move the facility to Ripon Road in Stevenage following complaints of noise and parking issues around the provision.

In February, it also emerged Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation had to reject an application from the county council to negotiate the lease on the property because it lacked detail.

A spokesman for the county council said: “We are still in the process of considering options regarding the future of Wilbury House. We hope to have a plan in place by the end of June.

“In relation to Ripon Road, we have made a decision that this building will not be used as an overnight provision and will not be the replacement for Wilbury House. We may still use the building as a community resource for families with disabled children but this is still to be determined.”

Speaking on behalf of the Wilbury House Action Group, parent Claire Botterman said: “Those who fought hard to retain the services at the state-of-the-art provision at Wilbury Road, Letchworth, are delighted that the council has agreed the alternative site at Ripon Road is better deployed for other uses.

“It is critical to users of respite care that facilities properly accommodate all their needs and this we have been constantly reassured is the case at Wilbury House.”

The future of the 43 children who attend the respite home remains in the balance.