ELEVEN children’s centre buildings will be closed by Wiltshire Council to save £500k following a decision by cabinet members this morning.

But two buildings, in Trowbridge and Mere, which were in line for closure are to be retained as children's centres when the services are put out for tender next summer.

Councillors also left scope for the Kings Rise Children’s Centre building in Chippenham and one in Wilton to be retained, subject to the necessary funding from the providers of the services.

Buildings used as children’s centres in Malmesbury and Corsham will not be kept, with some services being moved to the respective town’s campuses.

Devizes North and Marlborough will also lose their designated children’s centre buildings.

Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “What the government is saying to us, is that we have to look beyond these buildings. It’s important to go out to the community to those who need our services.

“Due to the very rural nature of Wiltshire, there are many families who don’t have access to children’s centre services that’s something I want people to bear in mind.

“At the moment the children’s centre services are mainly run from buildings, what we are saying is we do more to take these services out into the community. Nobody will go without the ability to access children’s centre services.”

Over 580 people attended consultation meetings on the children’s centres with over 700 people filling in the consultation.

But not all councillors were supportive of the changes.

Coun Jeff Osborn said: “The impact of austerity is gone on so long it has become blasé about its impact. I have to ask, how long can austerity go on? Local government provides services, without it we will suffer."

The Liberal Democrats young person spokesman, Coun Jon Hubbard, said: “I think there’s great sadness, one recommendation of the scrutiny committee was that the council should have an invest to save policy.

“We appear to be dumbing down to the lowest level rather than building them up to the highest point.”

The contracts between Wiltshire Council and the current providers of children centres services ends in the summer and from July 2016, staff will be based in key buildings over four geographical clusters (North, East, South and West Wiltshire).

The 11 buildings which are closing as children’s centres will free up space for the development of more childcare places ahead of government plans to extend free childcare.