A house for young people with autism in Basingstoke will be forced to close following a decision by borough council planning chiefs.
Homelands on Wildmoor Lane, part of The Loddon School in Sherfield-on-Loddon, had its application for retrospective planning permission turned down by the council on Wednesday last week.
It will close it doors within 12 months.
Staff at the centre were devastated by the decision – but it was good news for residents in the area who battled to get the home shut down.
Homelands is a specialist centre looking after four 16-year-old students of The Loddon School. Its 13 staff provide 24-hour care for vulnerable residents.
The house was bought by former headmistress of the school and current trustee Marion Cornick 17 years ago and has been used to house youngsters since 2004.
The change from residential to care use requires planning permission and borough council officers were asked to consider giving Homelands retrospective planning consent.
But nearby residents furiously objected to the plans. A petition with 25 signatures and nine letters of objection were sent in to the council.
Residents complained about disruption and noise from the house, items thrown into neighbouring gardens and claimed their properties were being devalued.
But Mrs Cornick, 69, said: “A lot of the complaints were exaggerated and did not apply to the house,” she said: “Homelands did receive some noise complaints, but they were addressed a long time ago. Yet they are still used as evidence. Any problems we have had, we did something to resolve, but they never let us live them down. If we make one mistake, it is remembered forever.”
In a statement to the borough council, Sherfield-on-Loddon Parish Council said it supported the work done by the school, but believed the youngsters should be housed on the school site itself.
But Cllr Robert Taylor, a trustee of the school, said: “Behind high walls and far away – this is a comment made to me by a councillor colleague a few days ago when discussing this planning application.
“It graphically sums up the core issues at the heart of this application and the protesting voices behind the reasons for it being debated at this committee.
“It reflects an attitude and perception of the controversial care of arguably the most excluded and challenged individuals in our society.”
Development committee member Cllr Diane Taylor said it had been a difficult decision to refuse the centre planning permission.
She said: “I would normally champion the cause of the needy, but in this case I cannot ignore the plight of the neighbours. I do feel with extra thought and care more suitable housing should be sought.”
