A special needs care home which is due to close because of “unsustainable” losses could be saved.

The 23 residents in Hft Sussex were due to be kicked out because of spiralling costs meaning the site would close.

But some of their families have taken legal action to stop the process and said there will now be a consultation on the closure.

The announcement that the site, in Walberton, would close was met with outrage in September.

The Argus: Residents and some of their families at Hft Sussex protesting back in September

Families are hoping other care providers can step in and take over the accommodation, as has happened at other Hft sites in the country.

Ashley Stevenson, 62, has a family member at the site who he says has become “settled” since moving there.

Mr Stevenson, a photographer, said: “We have got ourselves together as a family group. We are now taking legal steps which has stopped the process. They are now doing a consultation.

“We do not have a lot of trust in them. We have our fight now to keep the place open.

“There are care providers who are interested in the site. We are confirming with them if they’re on board. HfT says it has no plans for the site.

“There are people there who have no family. They should have people speaking for them, they should have advocates. People in Walberton are right behind us.

MOST READ:

“We are worried about the people who do not have the right people behind them to help them. HfT seems to want these adults in urban environments.

“We have no idea what the framework of the consultation is at the moment.”

Some of the residents have lived at the site for more than 50 years. Hft states that its service allows adults to live with "more independence and choice".

In August, families in Hft Wiltshire saved it from closure after the charity announced intentions to pull out in 2020 after a public row with Wiltshire Council over funding arrangements.

Hft has 24 locations across the UK where it supports adults with special needs.

The nearest Hft sites to Walberton are both in Kent, 50 and 100 miles away.

A spokeswoman for Hft Sussex said: "We have confirmed that we will be writing to commissioners to request a revocation on the notice we have served, to give us the opportunity to meaningfully consult with families, people we support and commissioners.

"If, as we hope, commissioners agree to this request, it will stop all closure plans while we consult.

"We are fully committed to ensuring the consultation process is meaningful and we would not be in a position to confirm any future outcome for Walberton until the process has been concluded as we would not want to pre-empt our decision in any way."

There is no date confirmed yet for when the consultation process will last.

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “Hft are responsible for any decision on their site’s future.

“The health and wellbeing of people in West Sussex remains our top priority. We will work with residents, their families and other commissioning authorities during the consultation by Hft.

“We will continue to pursue alternative arrangements where the person has made that decision or where we believe it is in the best interests of the person we support.”