ROYAL Wootton Bassett's children's centre has been spared in a closure programme agreed by Wiltshire Council today.

Cabinet members yesterday decided to close 11 children’s centre buildings in an effort to save £500k.

The Bassett centre was not one of the ones proposed to be closed.

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.

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

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 Coun Jeff Osborn said: “I have to ask, how long can austerity go on? Local government provides services, without it we will suffer."

And the Liberal Democrats' young persons' 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.”

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).

Consultation starts this week on the closure of the remaining five children centres in Swindon.

The borough council is making savings based on having a budget gap of around £20 million.

Closures would hit centres at Drove, Moredon, Gorse Hill, Parks and Penhill.

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