HAMPSHIRE County Council is to hold a public consultation on proposals for overnight residential respite – the outcome of which could help to shape the future of overnight respite services for children and young people with disabilities, and their families.

As part of the county council’s work to deliver vital services, in the face of ongoing national austerity, the authority wants to explore the possibility of re-designing the overnight respite service, with a view to providing a wider range of options which could offer families greater choice and flexibility in the type of support they access.

To do this, Keith Mans, the county council’s executive lead member for children’s services, agreed on July 17 that an eight-week consultation will go ahead, over the summer and early autumn, to seek views on proposals to close two residential respite care homes – Merrydale in Winchester and Sunbeams in Aldershot.

Mr Mans explained: “Whenever the county council is considering changes and improvements to services, I think it is extremely important that the groups of people who could be affected, including in this case children and young people with disabilities, as well as the wider public, have the chance to have their say. I hope that as many people as possible will take the opportunity to make their views known.”

The consultation is due to open on August 7 and will run until October 2. Visit democracy.hants.gov.uk.