THE High Court will not intervene in changes to a learning disabled community in North Yorkshire.

For more than 60 years, the village of Botton in the North Yorkshire Moors has been home to people with learning disabilities who share accommodation with volunteer “house parents” and their families.

The charity which manages the village, Camphill Village Trust, has proposed that house parents be treated as employees rather than volunteers, which residents believe will disrupt their lives.

Three residents challenged the plans, and their lawyers argued the changes would breach their human rights. John McKendrick, representing the residents, told the court in London: “This special arrangement respects their autonomy and dignity. The changes proposed by the defendant presents a significant threat to the established and successful way of life that the claimants have enjoyed for many years.”

Rejecting the challenge, Mr Justice Knowles said it was not arguable that there had been a breach of the residents’ human rights.

He said: “The claimants deserve respect and I do not doubt what they feel they gain from the arrangements with the co-workers that have existed up until now.

“I have no reason to view the co-workers with anything other than respect, and the same goes for the charity.”