Children's centres in Bishops Green and Tadley under threat of closure
County councillor takes up cudgel to save Bishops Green centre
A HAMPSHIRE county councillor has taken up the cudgel to oppose the proposed closure of children’s centres in Bishop’s Green and Tadley.
The move is part of a bid by Hampshire County Council to meet a £98m funding shortfall by 2017 and close up to 43 Sure Start children’s centres, including Badgers, at Bishops Green Community Centre, in Beech Road, and Hometree, at Tadley Community Centre, in Newchurch Road.
At a recent meeting of Burghclere Parish Council, county councillor Tom Thacker (Con, Whitchurch and Clere) told parish councillors he would oppose any closure of the Bishop’s Green centre.
He said: “I will give the message to the leadership (of the county council) that there is a need almost as much in rural areas as urban areas for children’s centres.”
The county council, he said, should give serious consideration to retaining the Bishop’s Green centre as a ‘hub’ to meet a need in an area north west of Basingstoke.
Mr Thacker said the current outlook was to ensure those areas with high levels of need would still be able to use the service, while others may have to resort to organising a similar service as community groups.
He said: “The aim is to ensure the minimum service for those who really need it is in place.”
Activities at the Sure Start centres include fitness classes for children under five, baby weighing, baby massage, health clinics, young parent groups, stay-and-play sessions, messy play and family play groups.
The centres aim to give children the best possible start in life and are used by parents, childminders and carers, offering chance to meet other families in a friendly atmosphere.
Proposals by the county council include a new, integrated family support service to meet the needs of vulnerable families with children aged up to 19 and extending up to age 25 for young people with learning difficulties or a disability.
Activities currently available to families would no longer be open to all families free of charge.
And the proposals would combine early help hubs, children’s centres and also youth support services, with the Supporting (Troubled) Families Programme.
The county council is carrying out a 10-week consultation on the proposals, which closes on May 3, with a decision due in July.
For more information, visit the children’s services consultation at hants. gov.uk. For paper copies of the consultation telephone 0300 555 1384, or email info@hants.gov.uk.