DESPERATE mums in Redditch are being urged to take part in a meeting concerning the future of children’s centres.

The meeting of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel, taking place from 10am on Friday, July 15 at County Hall, will discuss proposals for 18 Children’s Centres including those in Redditch.

A consultation, which went out on Worcestershire County Council’s website earlier this year, called for suggested alternative uses of the children’s centre buildings.

The consultation said: “We recognise that these buildings are important community assets and want to make sure they are used to their full potential. We are not proposing to close any buildings, instead we believe that the proposals that we are consulting on will enable them to be used better.

"However, before a final decision is made we need to understand the impact, both good and bad, on local communities.”

The county council has now produced a list of proposed future uses of each centre, which names the services which will no longer be delivered if proposals go ahead.

The controversial proposals would mean that Cherry Trees at Batchley First School, Maple Trees at Roman Way School, Oak Trees at Oakhill First School and Woodlands at Woodrow First School will all stop running activity sessions, and family and adult learning, and some health services.

Additional services are being planned at the centres.

Maple Trees at Tenacres First school will continue to run all the services it does at present.

Councillor Lynne Duffy, chairman of the children and families overview and scrutiny panel, said: "It's important that the consultation process is as thorough as it can be so I would invite members of the public to attend this meeting and share their views with us. The scrutiny board's function is to gain a full understanding of the views of as many service users on the current proposals."

Anyone wishing to participate in the meeting should email scrutiny@worcestershire.gov.uk no later than 9am on Thursday, July 14.

The Advertiser reported last week more than 650 anguished parents signed a petition pleading with council chiefs to scrap children's centre cuts - warning of "massive long term costs".

Mums said the centres have helped them with depression, relationship break-ups, financial problems and behavioural advice for bringing up toddlers.