Parents protest at proposed closure of 'vital' children's centre
A protest has been held in Calcot near Reading to campaign against the proposed closure of a the Calcot Children's Centre.
Parents claim that the centre is a lifeline for up to 350 families who would have to travel much further to the next nearest centre.
The proposal is part of a consultation by West Berkshire Council which is having to find £10m of cuts in next year's budget.
Among the proposals are:
A redesign of Children's Centres Services provision including the closure of four centres in Calcot, East Downlands, South Newbury and Lower Way, South Thatcham
Suspension of a CCTV service - involving 40 cameras - across Newbury, Thatcham, Hungerford, Pangbourne, Lambourn and Theale
Merging Burghfield Common and Mortimer libraries into one building in Mortimer and moving from two mobile libraries to one
One mum Emma Collis said that since using the Calcot children's centre she and her children have benefited massively.
Nick Carter, Chief Executive of West Berkshire Council, has said that some tough choices need to be made.