PARENT-CARERS whose children use a threatened Gwent respite care home were in tears yesterday (weds) as councillors voted to save the home.

Applause broke out as Monmouthshire County Council’s cabinet voted unanimously to save Caldicot’s Budden Crescent Respite Care Home - four months after councillors voted to go out to consultation on closure.

Work will now start on converting the five-bed home into a two-bed home and developing it as a hub for alternative respite options, such as short breaks and adult placements.

A review into respite care in Monmouthshire was brought forward after Torfaen County Borough Council announced it would no longer be using two of the five beds - leaving MCC with a £129,000 shortfall.

Two options were put forward: close the home and move to alternative, more flexible options, or keep Budden Crescent open with some staffing changes.

But staff at Budden Crescent put forward a third option at the 11th hour. This was the option approved by cabinet members.

Parent-carer Sandra Bower, whose son Lee uses Budden Crescent, was in tears as she said: “We are absolutely elated. A tremendous amount of stress has been taken away from us, now we just look forward to our kids being happy at Budden Crescent.

“We would like to thank all the staff at Budden Crescent because without them I think we would have lost it.”

The option leaves a funding gap of £50,000 not available in the social and housing services budget, but finance cabinet member Cllr Phil Murphy said: “The over-riding consideration is to always look after the people who have a need. It will put financial pressure on other parts of the authority but we will make this work because it’s the right option for the users of Budden Crescent.”