KINGS Park Children’s Centre could be closed next year and services delivered at the Canberra instead, as part of Wiltshire Council’s new childcare initiative.
Kings Park, which is considered to cater to the fifth most deprived community in Wiltshire, is one of the 15 out of 30 children’s centres expected to close in 2016.
An online consultation is under way to seek the views of local parents, professionals and residents on the future of children’s services in the county.
Wiltshire Council records 1,440 registered under fives in the town, but of the 747 children registered with Kings Park, only 14% of families have visited the centre more than six times in the past year.
If it was closed, the Canberra Children’s Centre would be responsible for all children’s centre services for Melksham.
The closure has been proposed as part of the local authority’s consultation on how it will deliver children’s services after the current Sure Start scheme expires in June 2016.
The consultation leaflet explains that the council will cut expenditure on dedicated buildings in order to retain staff who can offer more outreach support. It also expects to be able to increase the availability of midwives and health visitors.
Fewer buildings to run would also mean money could be saved on administration and managerial costs.
Kings Park children’s centre could then be used by River Mead School to increase their provision.
The consultation asks for the views of members of the public before it expires on Friday 6th November.
To make your voice heard fill out the form online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wiltshirechildrenscentressurvey
