A home which provides short breaks for almost 60 disabled adults may close – the third Faversham service for vulnerable people to be scrapped in the last two years.

As residential home Kiln Court prepares to shut and care home Mill House is turned into housing, the demise of Osborne Court in Lower Road is another nail in the coffin for health and social care services in our town.

Campaign group Faversham Health Matters says that the closure of the service, which provides short breaks for people with disabilities, alongside a day centre which is also facing the chop, means that the “needs of the most vulnerable in our society are not being met”.

Kent County Council (KCC) say the site is no longer fit for purpose, is under-used and there are now more usable, efficient short break facilities across the county, with plans to transfer the users of the service over to Southfields in Ashford.

As the consultation begins this week, it has also been revealed that the site has been vulnerable to vandalism and has recently suffered broken windows “caused by ball bearings fired from high powered catapults”.

"The needs of the most vulnerable in our society are not being met." - Nuala Brenchley-Sayers

The report, which outlines that Osborne Court could close by January 2017 if plans are accepted, says: “Osborne Court is out of date and is not deemed to be fit for purpose and would require total refurbishment for it to continue.

“After consideration of this option, it is felt that resources would be better spent in updating a site with more potential for improvements to both the building and facilities.

“KCC has undertaken a review of its Short Breaks provision for people with disabilities.

“This is part of the wider KCC transformation programme that is seeking to make social care services more efficient and improve experience for service users.”

Claire Belsom who represents the town council on Faversham Health Matters said: “We seem to be constantly fighting for our health and social care services here in Faversham – first the minor injuries unit, which we saved, then the loss of outpatients, followed by Kiln Court and now Osborne Court – what next?”

Another member Nuala Brenchley-Sayers, who also runs the Vaults pub in Preston Street, said: “It is clear that KCC is following a policy of divesting itself of assets to fill its financial black hole, and the needs of the most vulnerable in our society are not being met as a result – accommodation strategies seem to take precedence over care strategies.

“Osborne Court residential and day centres provide a safe community for a vulnerable group of people which will be lost if they are sent to Ashford and elsewhere.”

Faversham Health Matters is urging people to respond to the consultation, which will run for 12 weeks from its start date on June 7.

The full documents for the consultation can be found by clicking here.

Chairman of Faversham Health Matters Brenda Chester adds: “We urge people to respond to the consultation and we would also like to hear from anyone or their families who rely on Osborne Court for short breaks or daycentre activity.

“They can do this by using our Facebook page or emailing me on brenda.chester@zen.co.uk.”