RESIDENTS of a village for people with learning disabilities have signed a petition urging North Yorkshire County Council and the trust that runs it to let them continue sharing their homes with volunteer carers.

Campaign group Action for Botton has said 80 per cent of villagers living in Botton, in Danby Dale. have signed the petition appealing to the council and Camphill Village Trust to let them continue to live with co-workers who work and live alongside them.

Camphill Village Trust (CVT), which runs the community, is making changes to the shared living ethos and is bringing in paid shift-workers instead, which has prompted fierce protests - but Action for Botton believes the changes will destroy the unique 60 year old Botton community.

The Botton Parents Group, representing 79 family members of Botton residents, fear the changes could mean residents will have to be moved away from co-workers, and have written to North Yorkshire County Council asking for confirmation on the matter.

Neil Davidson, chairman of Action for Botton, said: “The villagers who have signed the petition represent an overwhelming 80 per cent of those at Botton and we urge CVT and NYCC to now take their views into account.”

A spokesman for CVT has said the charity is looking at adapting the way it works with its co-workers following tax advice – but said no villagers would be moved against their will.

He said: “While we are now required to have employment contracts with our co-workers, our commitment will remain unaffected; none of our communities – including Botton – are under any threat of closure.

“The people we support are – and always must be – at the heart of every decision we take.”