A MOTHER has expressed concerns over plans to axe the children’s centre in Crewkerne as part of a restructure by Somerset County Council.

Under the council’s plans, South Somerset’s 11 children’s centres will be cut to six facilities, stripping the other five services of their children centre title and potentially seeing the buildings close.

Chard Children’s Centre, at Clare House, will be largely unaffected but Ile Valley Children’s Centre in Wharf Lane, Ilminster, and Ashlands in North Street, Crewkerne, will be ‘de-designated’.

Council chiefs insist services will still be available across the area if the level of need is high enough.

Hannah Coombs, 26, of Crewkerne, has used Ashlands Children’s Centre since the birth of her son Dillon, who is now two.

She said: “Their help is invaluable for face to face advice and to meet other mums in a similar situation.

“If that goes, people will be deprived because some have no access to transport and they would be stuck.

“It is a vital service that is needed.”

Cllr Frances Nicholson heard views from parents and councillors at a meeting on Friday and was due to make a decision on the cuts on Monday but this has now been postponed until Friday (November 22) at the earliest.

Cllr Nicholson said: “It is very clear people feel very passionate about the children’s services we deliver.

“I want to make sure I’ve considered every point of view and left no stone unturned before I make my final decision on a service that means so much to so many.”

A spokesperson from the NCT, the UK’s largest parenting charity, said parents really value the services provided by children's centres.

They added: “It is crucial that these services are retained in some form but in the current financial climate, change in delivery is almost inevitable.

“Parents need to be consulted and informed about the changes, especially those who are most likely to be affected."

The council says £5.6million is currently spent on children’s centres, with more than half of that spent is on management, administration and buildings.

There are 41 centres across the county but only 23 will keep their children’s centre status.

Cllr Nicholson said: “For the other 18, family support services will continue in the same communities and in many cases in the same buildings. They just may not be called a children’s centre.

“If services are moved out of the centre building, they will still take place in that local area, be it a village hall or school building.”