THE message from campaigners was clear ‘No ifs, no buts, no Sure Start cuts.”

Mums, children, grandparents and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Councillors gathered outside Popley Fields Community Centre, in Carpenters Down to protest the closure of 10 Sure Start centres in the borough.

Today Hampshire County Council held a public consultation in the community centre to hear residents’ views on the proposed £8.5million cuts.

Mums who were present at the protest said that the county council does not understand how vital these services are for so many people.

Tia Rookes, who uses the Pebbles centre in Popley said thanks to the services provided it gave her so many new opportunities.

“Pebbles didn’t just help my daughter, but they allowed me to volunteer there and train in child care,” said the 28-year-old mum of two.

“Even when I had my second child all the staff were really supportive and helped me work around the kids schedule.”

Another user of Pebbles, Jennifer McGarry, said the centre is vital in a number of ways, from running activities to lending expert advice.

She said: “It is reassuring to have somewhere that we can go and get the support a mum needs from time to time.

“With Pebbles there is always someone there to listen to you no matter what the issue is.”

Basingstoke Gazette:

If the county council’s proposals are given the green light 10 of the 11 centres in the borough will be closed, with the Honeycomb based at Chiltern Primary School, remaining open as a Family Support Service Hub.

Drop-in services would be cut entirely and there would be an emphasis on home visits and telephone calls for support instead of attending group sessions with fellow parents and talking with volunteers.

Centres in Chineham, Lychpit, Popley, Whitchurch, Tadley, Manor Fields, Hatch Warren, Overton, Westside and Bishops Green are all in danger of closing.

The concern is that families who have no means of transport won’t be able to get to the new hub in Buckskin.

Labour Councillor Paul Harvey said the idea of closing these centres is unacceptable and emphasises the idea of “every child matters.”

Cllr Harvey said: “The county council need to listen to the voices of the people who use these services on a regular basis.

“Labour councillors in Basingstoke are going to fight with everything we have to ensure that this move for closures is not put through.

“There are cuts happening everywhere in the county council but this is a cut too far.”

The Save Our Children’s Centres Hampshire campaign is being run by Catherine Overnden who told The Gazette she will fight tooth and nail to save these vital centres.

She said: “We need to encourage as many parents as possible to object the proposal during this consultation period.

“If these proposals are pushed through I will appeal to the European courts and continue to fight to keep something so many parents hold dear to them open.”