A Wiltshire Council cabinet member has vowed to work to ensure that residents at Furlong Close have a choice in their future.

Simon Jacobs, cabinet member for adult social care, attended this week’s Devizes Town Council to give an update on the situation at the Rowde care facility.

The complex is made up of six bungalows, and houses adults with learning difficulties. It is poised to close - and for the last six months, families have put pressure on both operator Hft and Wiltshire Council to save it.

Antonia Field, whose brother Robin lives at Furlong Close, joined the virtual meeting from Surrey.

She said: “Can you give an undertaken that all those residents who wish to stay at Furlong Close for not just the foreseeable future, but for their lifetimes, and enable them to live in their homes, and have that choice to do so?

“Apart from everything else, this is about choice for adults with learning difficulties. And increasingly their voices are being restricted."

Cllr Jacobs responded: “As the cabinet member for adult social care, I would very much like to see those residents stay there for the rest of their lives, that’s really what I would like to see.

"And my fellow councillors feel very strongly that we would like to see those residents remain their for the rest of their lives. We are working with all the power we have to ensure that happens.

“What I can't say is that we're going to see a Furlong Close offering this kind of care in 15 to 20 years time, I can’t make guarantees of that nature. But what we are trying to do is secure their home and ensure that it remains for the remainder of their lives."

Cllr Jacobs explained that the local authority have contracts for 22 residents at the site. The other 13 residents come from other council areas. 

Furlong Close

Screenshot from Devizes Town Council meeting

He added: “Last year, Hft basically said without any consultation that they were no longer wishing to run Furlong Close and were withdrawing from the market.

"There has been quite a lot of angst and that’s not unsurprising, as Wiltshire Council we have our 22 residents there and there’s been a lot of pushback understandably. My job as cabinet member is obviously to protect the welfare of these residents."

Council officers had gone out with a soft tender exercise to see who might be prepared to take on the Furlong Close site.

Cllr Jacobs added: "Last week it became clear that Hft are now prepared to sell the site which was not the case up until that moment, so that changes things and opens up a new range of options.

"There are ongoing discussions between council officers and Hft and all options are on the table.”

A covenant, which restricts the use of an area of land means it will not be sold as development.

During the meeting Cllr Nigel Carter said: "I share many people’s anxiety over the vulnerable residents who have been tossed around in somewhat stormy seas and I would like to express one regret, which is the lack of transparency with is rather frustrating."

Cllr Judy Rose added it was an "appalling situation" for residents to find themselves in, and that she was very happy to hear the council was taking the issue seriously.

Rowde councillor, Chris Greenwood, also took the meeting as a chance to highlight the immense contribution Furlong Close has made to the wider community.