Shropshire Council looks to withdraw children's services from 20 buildings in bid to save £875,000

A report which will go before Shropshire Council's cabinet next Wednesday recommends the withdrawal of early years services at 20 buildings, to be replaced by seven hubs in larger towns.

It means staff will be split between new units or be asked to go out into the community to support parents and children with information, advice and support.

The hubs will be in Oswestry, Ludlow, Whitchurch, Bridgnorth, Market Drayton and two in Shrewsbury.

Karen Bradshaw, director of Children’s Services, said: “We want to provide support to children and families who are most in need of our help, quickly and in the right way.

“There are many families who receive support from a number of organisations to help with problems they are facing, but this support isn’t always coordinated in a way that makes sense to the family. This causes confusion and frustration for the family and it does not always enable things to improve quickly enough, or for those improvements to be sustained.

“This, together with the need to secure £875,000 savings from the early years budget, means a change in approach is required to target our resources on those who need our help the most.

“This will require alterations to the way we identify and interact with families in need in our communities.”

The proposal has been subject to two six-week public consultations.

The first, launched in February, saw 459 people take part, while the second in May drew comments from 461.

The centres set for closure are:

• Richmond House.

• Buttercup Lodge.

• Honeysuckle Lodge.

• Mereside Primary School.

• Meole Brace Primary School.

• Ellesmere Primary School.

• St Peters Primary School in Wem.

• Whitchurch Infants School.

• Longlands Primary School.

• Market Drayton Infant School.

• Albrighton Primary School.

• St Andrew’s Primary School in Shifnal.

• St Mary’s Bluecoat Primary School in Bridgnorth.

• Church Stretton School.

• Stokesay Primary School.

• Crowgate in Bishops Castle.

• Holy Trinity in Oswestry

• Woodside Primary School in Oswestry.

• Baschurch Village Hall.

• Morda Primary School.

The report notes the most support was for the retention of the hub at The Centre in Oswestry, while the biggest concern was transport and accessing the hubs.

A big development includes the need for a hub in Market Drayton after responses from the public.

Details for a venue in Whitchurch are still to be confirmed.

Work is ongoing to provide alternative uses for the buildings.

By Emily Lloyd, local democracy reporter