Richmond Council has back-pedalled on plans to close a respite care home for children with disabilities after coming under fire from concerned parents.

Croft Cottage, a two bedroom facility used on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in Windham Road, supports children throughout the day and night by qualified staff who are referred by Richmond Disabled Children's Service.

It had been due to close because its operator, Enhanceable, could not operate at its current budget.

Richmond Council, which faces a 66 per cent cut to its grant from the Government over the next four years, said the “difficult state” of its finances means it has to “find a financially viable” option.

The 11 families who use the service were faced with travelling 13 miles south to a new home in Chessington.

More than 200 people had signed a petition to prevent home closing at the end of its contract on April 23, but the council announced today they had reversed the decision after discussions with parents.

The home will be kept open for the families until new facilities are opened in Moor Lane in Kingston next autumn.

Councillor Paul Hodgins, Richmond's cabinet member for young people, said: “The Council has listened to the concerns of parents about the impact on their children if Croft Cottage were to close without the planned new provision being in place, and without giving them more time to help their children transition to the new  arrangements.

“We have taken those concerns on board, and have therefore committed that Croft Cottage will remain open until new  short break care facilities are opened at Moor Lane in Autumn 2018.

“The new facilities will be purpose-built in consultation with parents and will be available throughout the week, providing more flexibility to parents and children.

“We will also take this additional time to engage further with our local parents about respite provision, exploring potential options that despite the council's increasing financial constraints could be made possible through parents, the council, and voluntary groups working more closely together.

“We will work together on this as a priority next step.”

Barry Woodward, who set up the campaign and whose daughter uses the Croft Cottage service, posted that he and others working on reversing the decision “take great pleasure” in announcing the news.