More than 4,000 people have signed a petition in a bid to prevent the closure of an Ealing respite centre used for young people with disabilities.
Heller House, Southall, Ealing, could face potential closure under Ealing Council 's Budget Strategy 2015/16 to 2018/2019, which sets out to reduce revenue expenditure by £96million for this period.
It is claimed by the council that the Victorian building, on Norwood Road, is not fit for purpose and requires "significant capital expenditure to maintain minimum physical standards."
From November 23 2015 to January 15 this year, consultation laid out the possibility of closing the home and providing services elsewhere in west London, but the council have not said where that may be.
Another option suggested by the council's Children and Adult Services department was temporarily closing the home and redeveloping it at an estimated cost of £3million.
A council spokesperson said: "We have met with the nine families who currently use Heller House to reassure them that the council will continue to provide respite care and short term breaks to meet their needs.
"The council has been asking for people’s views on the future of Heller House which provides respite care for disabled children and young people.
"All views and suggestions submitted as part of the consultation will be considered before a decision is made by the council’s Cabinet later this month."
Residents fight back
But a petition, signed by 4,072 people including one who described the home as a "lifeline", is pushing for the council to consider a third option involving a private developer.
The proposal, drawn up by the petition's creator and Ealing resident Siobhan Bryar, wants the council to consider having a private developer build a new centre in exchange for a portion of the site.
The council has not yet commented on whether or not the petition's potential success in reaching 5,000 signatures would influence its decision.
Jacqueline Swords, whose autistic son Ciaran, 17, suffers from severe learning disabilities and uses the home, is concerned about the uncertainty surrounding its future.
The GP, who has lived in Ealing since 1993, also has another son, Matthew, 19, who used to use the home because he suffered from the same problems as his brother.
The now Hanwell , Ealing, resident said: "We (including her husband) have had two children who have been able to use it. It has been so difficult and I can't imagine how much more difficult it would have been without it.
"They (her children) will sleep for maybe three hours which is exhausting, and we have to think about going to work the next day.
"When they go to respite we can reclaim our sanity and recharge the batteries."
Mrs Bryar, who has developed close ties with parents who use the home because her own son, Laurence, is autistic, claims to have found a willing investor.
She added: "Councillors need to be aware that the number of children (and their families) in desperate need of respite is far higher than those who are currently allowed to access it.
"I know of a family with two autistic children who have been waiting for respite since 2013 and have had none."
The council has not yet confirmed which date cabinet will make a decision.
You can view the petition here .
