THE Childrens Centre in Studley is to be axed following a decision by a cabinet meeting at Warwickshire County Council.
The decision leaves just three childrens centres to cover the entire Stratford district area and comes after an 11th hour plea from the leader of the district, Councillor Chris Saint to his fellow Tory Izzy Seccombe at County Hall to abandon the plans.
It means the nearest centre will be in Alcester, which will act as an outreach hub.
Coun Clive Rickhards (Studley) said: “I just cannot see how it is going to work. How are they going to do things like ‘Stay and Play’ – play with whom? and where? And ‘Chatter Matters’ – chatter with whom? They will all be isolated.
“What struck me is that the cabinet were almost describing this as an improvement – an improvement for whom? Certainly not the children of Studley.”
Earlier in the week Coun Saint had written to Ms Seccombe calling for the plans, which aim to save the county £1.12million, to be abandoned.
His letter said: “There is a view in Shire Hall that Stratford-on-Avon District is a prosperous area that does not require support in the way that is needed in deprived areas in larger towns.
“Such an approach denies access to services to those deprived areas of Stratford and they do exist.
“Secondly, residents in Stratford-on-Avon District pay their council tax and expect their fair share of services in return.”
He suggested that with senior management in the department earning more than £900,000 in salaries much of the savings required could come from making it less top heavy and warned that if implemented the measures could have consequences at the next local elections.
Councillors attending the meeting were met with protesters waving banners against the cuts and the meeting was packed out with angry with members of staff.
