THE ONLY children’s centre for Petersfield and surrounding villages is to close and up to seven out of ten workers made redundant.
The Action for Children Centre, on the corner of Love Lane and Readon Close, is to shut in October to help Hampshire County Council cut £8.5m from its child services bill.
The need to reduce spending is blamed on less money coming from the Government.
Mums and toddlers will now have to go to a ‘hub’ at Alton for healthcare to get vital early years support. Some services will be replaced with outreach visitors.
The county council says each of the 11 districts in Hampshire, including East Hampshire, will have one fully operational children’s centre, which will also be a Family Support Service hub.
A council spokesman said that as the centre in Petersfield was purpose built it couldn’t be used for anything else and was on the list of centres to be sold;.
Once closed, the county council-owned building will be sold. With funding withdrawn, and the council’s alternative ‘hub’ plan agreed, it is unlikely mum and toddler health services will be offered there again.
It is one of 61 such centres being closed across the county and it is expected more than 180 jobs in total could go.
A Petersfield staff member said: “We have been told up to seven out of 10 of us will lose our jobs.”
In a statement, Action for Children said it is to run the centres until its council contract ends in October then the council will take the services in-house.
Action for Children operational director Liz Rowe, said: “We know that getting children and families help early can significantly improve life chances.
“It is clear to see how valued children’s centres are within their community, linking families with vital health and social care and other services.
“Our absolute priority is the wellbeing of the children and families.”
The centre also offers support for parents with learning difficulties. This includes help with language, reading, writing and maths, and organising volunteering as a step toward employment.