PLANS to close six Children’s Centres across the county have been approved by Wiltshire Council cabinet.

Mums who use Westbury Children’s Centre handed in a petition with over 500 signatures in support of keeping the building open in the town.

Parents called on the council to re think plans that would see six children’s centre buildings close across the county in Cricklade, Mere, Pewsey, Salisbury City, Trowbridge Longfield, Westbury White Horse.

In Pewsey, the Children's Centre services will move into the community, and it is expected the building will be used by Puddleducks to expand the nursery.

Representative for Pewsey Cllr Jerry Kunkler said: “Outreach workers said they want to communicate with more families. I’m disappointed Pewsey centre is closing but we have had a positive approach. I think it is positive we are delivering it in the right way, with Puddleducks nursery taking over the space. Pewsey is closing, we have accepted it and we are moving on.”

Concerns for Cricklade were also raised, where the library is on the first floor and was called “unsuitable” for baby groups. The council will now look into other options for the town when the centre closes.

Of the six, five buildings will now be used for nursery spaces in the towns.

Staff will target the most vulnerable families, and provide work within their homes to give them more support. Closing the buildings will save the council £250k a year.

An amendment has been agreed that will see Westbury children’s centre closure delayed until the Autumn, when it will be transferred to the former Youth Centre Building that is set to reopen in the town in September.

Speaking to mums who attended today’s meeting, leader of the council Jane Scott said: “If we can work together on the services you want and the services people are not getting, hopefully we can move forward in a positive way.

"I’m keen to see breast feeding, even in toddlers as I breast fed until my youngest was four years old.”

Mum Lydia Wiltshire said: “Very few mums visit sports centre of library as they don’t have the changing facilities or privacy for breastfeeding. The Children’s Centre is that safe space we need.”

Cllr Laura Mayes said: “As a council we’ve committed to help families as early as possible to make sure they thrive. We don’t want staff sitting in empty building we want building to be where families are we don’t want money tied up in expensive buildings.

"We will continue to offer outreach support I want to reassure everybody we do understand the importance of children’s centre services and the changes we are doing is to ensure they continues."

Cllr Richard Clewer: “If we have fixed building, very few people can walk to them and provide a service of a very small number.

"By spreading around our focus we will reach more people.”

Following the petition, a proposal has been made by Wiltshire Cabinet to keep Westbury Children’s Centre open until September, when it will move to the former Youth Centre Building.

But mums told the council that the Westbury centre was ideally placed in the centre of town and provided crucial support.

Nadine Crook lives in Warminster and had to use Westbury’s centre when Warminster’s centre close din 2016. She said: I started the Save Westbury Children Centre petition because of my experience when Warminster’s centre closed in 2016. When it closed we were promised services would continue in community buildings. Those promises were hollow. After the centre closed universal provision disappeared. I was told there were plenty of good toddler groups in Warminster but unlike children’s centre they are mainly run by volunteer groups and offer social support, not professional help. They have no early intervention and cannot signpost those in need.”

“Only four families are receiving outreach support in Westbury at the moment. This is staggeringly low. I understand times are tough for the council but if the service focusses strongly on those already in the system other people will be abandoned and it is inevitable people will not be picked up as needing help.”

Cabinet member for children Cllr Laura Mayes said : “As a council we’ve committed to help families as early as possible to make sure they thrive. We are a large rural county and we need to offer services where people are. We don’t want staff sitting in empty building we want building to be where families are we don’t want money tied up in expensive buildings. We will continue to offer outreach support I want tor eassure everybody we do understand the importance of children’s centre services and the changes we are doing is to ensure they continues.”

Ian Cunningham, mayor of Westbury said: “We are told the cost of running Westbury Children’s Centre is £22k, this seems a very small cost for an important service for families in Westbury.”

The cabinet will decide whether to close six centre buildings and more services into the community during this morning cabinet meeting, to save £250k.

The meeting continues.