PLANS to close six Children’s Centres across the county have been approved by Wiltshire Council cabinet.

Mums who use Westbury Children’s Centre handed in a petition with over 500 signatures in support of keeping the building open in the town.

Parent Nadine Crook told councillors: "I started the Save Westbury Children Centre petition because of my experience when Warminster’s centre closed in 2016. When it closed we were promised services would continue in community buildings. Those promises were hollow. After the centre closed universal provision disappeared." Mum Lydia Wiltshire added: “Very few mums visit the sports centre or library as they don’t have the changing facilities or privacy for breastfeeding. The Children’s Centre is that safe space we need.”

Parents called on the council to re think plans to close six children’s centre buildings in Cricklade, Mere, Pewsey, Salisbury City, Trowbridge Longfield and Westbury White Horse.

An amendment will keep Westbury children’s centre open until the Autumn, when it will be transferred to the former Youth Centre Building due to reopen in the town in September on Eden Vale Rd.

Cabinet member for children Cllr Laura Mayes said : “As a council we’ve committed to help families as early as possible to make sure they thrive. We don’t want staff sitting in empty buildings.We will continue to offer outreach support, I want to reassure everybody we do understand the importance of children’s centre services and the changes we are doing is to ensure they continue.” Of the six, five buildings will now be used for nursery places in the towns. The change will save the council £250k a year.