A COUPLE have spoken of the trauma and stress they have suffered since discovering that a York day care centre - attended by their autistic son for the past 20 years - is to close down.

Susan and Graham Hudson claim their son John, 38, and his friends at Yearsley Bridge have been placed in an impossible position by politicians and officials who decided to shut the centre next year.

The couple, from New Earswick, wrote to The Press to express their concerns, saying they found it very difficult to speak without getting very emotional.

"Our son John attends Yearsley Bridge Centre five days a week," they said. "He enjoys the friendship, stability, security, routine, variety of activities and trust that has been built up over his period of time there."

They said the centre had plenty of space for a number of activities, and a hydrotherapy pool, light sensitivity room, wheelchair and toilet facilities, and staff were very caring, supportive and sensitive to members' diverse needs. They claimed alternative facilities in York were already full, asking whether Yearsley customers were to be split up and fitted in wherever social services could find a vacancy.

"The centre is due to close in May 2008. It is not possible to find and place more than 70 people in such a short time and also take into consideration the length of time it takes people like our son to adapt to any change in lifestyle, routine and carers."

The couple said they had written about their concerns to nine Liberal Democrat councillors, one Labour councillor and one MP, and received replies only from one Lib Dem councillor and the MP, who had said the centre was to close because of a recommendation in a Government White Paper.

"We find it very difficult to understand how these people (who have never met or even heard of our son and his friends) think they know better than we (parents and carers) what is best for the future needs of these vulnerable people. They have no idea of the trauma, stress and devastating implications it will have on the people concerned, their families and all the staff at Yearsley Bridge Centre. You have to live with it to understand."

Bill Hodson, the council's director of housing and adult social services, said he wanted to make it clear it was not planning to reduce the level of support available to people.

"In line with national policy for modernising day services, we believe that a fuller range of services can be provided in the community rather than concentrating on one main centre that everyone has to travel to, regardless of where they live," he said.

"All customers and their families, friends and carers are being seen so that we know people's needs and wishes before we come forward with detailed proposals for the services to replace Yearsley Bridge. We do not want to rush this process as it is so important to get it right.

"We are already working on some options for services that people have consistently said are essential, such as a replacement hydrotherapy pool, and we will be sharing our ideas on these in the near future."