A WAR of words between Wiltshire Council and charity Hft has resulted in desperate families offering a white flag in a bid for progress.

This week, Hft sent a letter to families of residents at Furlong Close in Rowde, which houses people with learning disabilities, revealing they would withdraw from all services in Wiltshire.

Hft announced last July that the home would close.

This week the charity said there had been a “lack of truth” in dealings with the council and said communications with how to handle the care had broken down over time. Its contents led to a media briefing on Monday (February 22) where the council defended their position

Lucy Townsend, corporate director of people at Wiltshire Council, spoke about the concerns of families, described the situation as “unfortunate” for all involved and added that the council had tried without success to hold further meetings with Hft.

At the 11th hour before the full council on Tuesday meeting (February 23) the families of people living at Furlong Close removed their petition calling for Wiltshire Council to provide the necessary support to keep the facility open.

It garnered 43,000 signatures.

A group statement from the families states: “The petition was to be presented to a meeting of Wiltshire Council on 23 February 2021, but we have postponed its presentation to the council, so that it will not be debated at this time. The reason for this is that Hft has given notice to Wiltshire Council to terminate the provision of its services at Furlong Close in May 2021, although it is prepared to continue to operate Furlong Close for a further period of up to two years, to allow time for an alternative care provider to be found to operate the site.

“Recognising that the public debate has become increasingly acrimonious, with Hft recently accusing the council of telling “untruths” about its role and responsibilities in relation to the closure and of neglecting its statutory duties and the council denying those accusations, we have taken the view that a public debate at this time would only increase that acrimony and might entrench Hft and the council in positions which would not serve the interests of our finding a sensible solution to this appalling situation.”

Now, council leader Cllr Philip Whitehead has announced that a rapid scrutiny review will go ahead and focus on the issues surrounding Furlong Close.

It came after strong calls for an independent inquiry by Liberal Democrat leader Ian Thorn.

Lucy Townsend said: We want to find a constructive way forward for the residents at Furlong Close for whom Wiltshire council is responsible. We prefer to avoid entering into a public dispute as this is in no-one's interests especially the residents who remain our number one priority.

"I hope Hft adopt a similar approach."

The families that hope by delaying the debate on Furlong Close, it will mean both the council and Hft have time to engage with each other and find a solution, or potential homes, for the residents of Furlong Close.

Trish Gange, who has a daughter at Furlong Close and Natasha Parris, whose sister lives there, both stressed that communication with those directly affected had been poor.

Cllr Anna Cuthbert said residents had been left confused and distressed following the lingering uncertainty around Furlong Close’s future.

The families’ statement adds: “We hope that the council and Hft will now constructively engage with us and each other to find a long term solution for Furlong Close, in order to avoid the infliction of further, unnecessary trauma and suffering on our anxious and frightened relatives and their families.”

Emma Bagley, Hft’s divisional director for the South West told the Gazette: “Recent discussions have culminated in Hft being unable to find a constructive way forward with Wiltshire Council. While it was a mutually agreed commitment that Wiltshire would cease commissioning residential care at Furlong Close, it had initially been our wholehearted intention to continue providing supported living services for individuals whose assessment of need indicated that this was the most appropriate form of support that Wiltshire should be commissioning for them.”

Wiltshire Council say they will review the feasibility of any proposals for Furlong Close as soon as details are provided.

They will meet families on Wednesday.