Six Coventry children's centres could close to save £194K

Six children's centres in Coventry could close next month under city council plans to save money.

Coventry City Council is considering shutting Cheylesmore, Coundon, Earlsdon, Finham, Whoberley and Wyken on 31 August.

Councillor Jim O'Boyle, said the closures would save the council £194,000 in the next year.

Andrea Sayers, who takes her 15-month-old son to the Coundon centre, said the service was "definitely needed".

Ms Sayers said: "It's a shame to stop things like this and I'm sure people wouldn't mind paying more to attend the centres, I pay £1 at the moment per session."

'Cutting our cloth'

The six centres under threat have the lowest use and some open for less than three hours a week, according to the council.

Mr O'Boyle, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Government cuts mean we've got to cut our cloth accordingly."

He also said 118 people took part in a public consultation about the proposed closure that took place between February and April.

A spokesperson from the council said there were a total of 23 children's centres in Coventry.

<link> <caption>The plans, which have been recommended for approval,</caption> <url href="http://cmis.coventry.gov.uk/CMISWebPublic/Meeting.aspx?meetingID=2637" platform="highweb"/> </link> are due to be considered at a cabinet meeting on 10 July.

The Labour-run authority needs to make £17m of savings.