A PETITION to keep the Butterflies Children’s Centre open has been handed to Swindon’s deputy mayor.

On Tuesday it was revealed Swindon Council is to push ahead with plans to close seven of the town’s centres in a bid to save nearly £800,000.

Butterflies, at Abbey Meads, is one of the centres set to be decommissioned but it will be replaced with a ‘multi-generational’ centre, as will the West Swindon facility.

These will receive two thirds of current funding but will be free to raise their own funds. Council leaders say as these centres will be free from Ofsted restrictions they can offer more services and provide the opportunity for volunteers to come forward.

However, the parents handing in the petition say volunteers may miss the danger signs in a vulnerable child that a professional would normally spot.

Mum-of-two Wendy Smart, 38, said: “Simply put, volunteers do not have the level of training that a professional has. The staff who work at Butterflies now are absolutely brilliant and know what to look for. Without proper training key signs of problems could be missed.”

This view was echoed by Michael Tidey, who is on the Butterflies Advisory Board.

He said: “It seems as though the council are trying to get people to do their work for free. The staff we have now are qualified.

“We have a real worry that these new centres will not do the job of children’s centres, leading to far more problems in the future.”

The petition was signed by almost 1,200 people who say they want the North Swindon centre to remain open.

“We know the council say they are going to close them but we hope this petition will help them change their mind,” said Wendy, who handed over the signatures with her two daughters Abigail, two, and six-month-old Clara.

“I know they have set extra money aside to help in some parts of the town but we don’t think it is enough.”

Coun Fionuala Foley (Con, Chiseldon and Lawn), the cabinet member for children’s services, said: “There will still be professionals working and their work will be supplemented by volunteers.

“Whereas before there may have been two professionals and a volunteer there will be one professional and two volunteers.

“The two thirds funding, which at Butterflies is more than £190,000, is guaranteed for two years and will cover a lot.”

The proposal is set to be formally agreed at a meeting of the cabinet on Wednesday, with the centres closing by the end of March next year.