“RESIDENTS are being ignored.”

That is the opinion of a borough councillor after county bosses decided to shut down a Romsey care home – despite 84 per cent of respondents voting against proposals.

Masters House in the town is to shut after an eight-week consultation by Hampshire County Council.

Not a single person agreed with the closure, and it has left Romsey Cupernham councillor Dorothy Baverstock saying that residents have had their opinions ignored amid the “horrendous” decision to close the facility.

She said: “I am fed up to be honest, I have been campaigning against this for so long and residents have been ignored.

“It’s horrendous that they have decided to pull it down – and the logistics for that are going to be interesting to say the least.

“Romsey is desperate for the services that Masters House offers.”

Along with the closure of Petersfield’s Bulmer House, shutting down Masters House, which currently cares for 13 people, will save the council £177,000.

The county authority said that the service showed no signs of growing, and is operating at 40 per cent capacity. Another reason was because of the way people are choosing to access care during the day, with many “now preferring to receive support tailored to their individual needs”.

Romsey county councillor Mark Cooper said he made clear that a change in location for users would be very difficult.

He said: “I strongly regret the closure of the Masters House day service. “I have had several communications with both county council officers and the cabinet member for Adult Services, Cllr Liz Fairhurst, on this matter. “I have been assured that clients currently in receipt of the service will have an alternative provision.

“She has told me that when the new Nightingale Lodge is completed in the Autumn of 2019 that the Masters House Service provision will take place in the new building.

“That’s not much help for the current clients. “I’m determined to try and keep the day service running in the longer term.”