Swindon Council has announced it will push ahead with plans to close children's centres

SWINDON council is set to push ahead with plans to close more than half of the town’s children’s centres.

It was announced earlier this year that seven centres were to be closed in a bid to save almost £800,000.

A public consultation was carried out, with nearly 2,000 people responding to voice their opposition to the plans.

Two petitions were also handed over.

In response, the council has announced that while the centres will still be decommissioned, a one-off fund of £194,000 will be established to provide support to vulnerable families.

Part of the money will be used to set a family support service in Highworth and Stratton for two years aimed at youngsters under four.

The rest of the cash will set up a town wide support service targeting children under three who are most vulnerable and do not have access to one of the remaining children’s centres.

The centres set to be decommissioned are Eldene, Croft, Butterflies, Ladybird, Saltway, Robert le Kyng and West Swindon.

Butterflies and West Swindon will be replaced with multi-generational centres, which will operate on two thirds of the funding but will be free to raise money.

The proposal will go before cabinet next Wednesday and if it is approved the changes will come into effect by the end of March next year.

Click here for an updated version of this story

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