A CONSULTATION will start next week on the closure of the remaining five children centres in Swindon.

It was announced last week in the draft budget for the next financial year, when a budget gap of around £20 million of savings must be found.

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday night, councillors agreed to move forward with the plans despite opposition from users and opponents.

Prior to the meeting, more than a dozen protesters gathered to oppose the closures, which will impact centres at Drove, Moredon, Gorse Hill, Parks and Penhill.

The council say the centres are not reaching enough vulnerable youngsters and a greater focus on health visitors will lead to better support.

But Rev Linda Fletcher of St John’s Church in Whitbourne Avenue, who was at the protest on behalf of mums, believes a number of families will be at risk if the centres shut.

She said: “I am here because I have been speaking to lots of mums who are really concerned about the proposals to close the children centres there.

“Our main request is for the council to listen. We have heard so many stories about the centres have helped families from going over the edge.

“The Children Centre is somewhere they can gather where there people they can talk to, get advice from and get connected to the right people for help.

“There are many families who are on the edge of being classified as being vulnerable or troubled families and what the children centre has done is help them make family life work.

“A lot of people are worried that this short-term financial saving will lead to medium and long-term social costs.”

Kate Linnegar, of the People’s Assembly, said: “We were promised in April they would be protected but now because of the budget, those five were closing. But this is about all the cuts we are seeing

“These are services which help make society a decent place. At what point do they turn around and say enough is enough?”

Within the meeting, the cabinet member responsible for children’s services Fionuala Foley (Con, Chiseldon and Lawn) faced questions over the decision.

Coun Carol Shelley (Lab, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) said: “The centres are performing at reaching children.

“I think this is short-sighted and potentially devastating for the families which use them. Last year Coun Foley was very committed to those five centres so I want to know what has changed.”

But the cabinet member disagreed with the assertion the centres were performing well and said she wanted to see more targeted support.

Coun Foley said: “I would disagree they have been doing well at meeting the most targeted and most vulnerable.

“I could have looked elsewhere like early years and that could have been an easier option but I wouldn’t risk losing one of our health visitors. They can reach the most vulnerable and with budget cuts needed we need to make sure we are targeting those who need help the most.”

The consultation will last several weeks before being the final budget is decided in February next year.