THE importance of Southend’s children’s centres has been underlined by campaigning mums amid budget cuts which threaten their future.

A consultation is now under way into the future of children’s centres which could see Darlinghurst, in Leigh, merged with Blenheim in Blenheim Chase, Leigh.

Shoebury children’s centre which may merge with Friars, also in Shoebury.

Hamstel in Southend may also be merged with Temple Sutton children’s centre in Eastern Avenue as part of a raft of measures to save £224,000 from the budget.

At a packed public meeting at the centre, mums with their tots and babes in arms pleaded with council officers to keep the Hamstel centre open.

Hamstel provides play sessions, breastfeeding advice and support, antenatal care and even counselling for families in the area.

Southend Council is proposing merging it with Temple Sutton children’s centre in Eastern Avenue, Southend as part of a raft of measures

Darren McAughtrie, plans, performance and commissioning manager at Southend Council, told the meeting cutting the running costs of some children’s centres was one way the council could save the money, while retaining the services.

He faced a barrage of questions including why money was being cut from children’s services and spent on the new library for Southend and the seawall at Shoebury.

Donna Hillier, a mother of one, said: “You’re spending all this money on the seawall at Shoebury which no-one wants. And yet you’re taking places away from our children. Can you understand it makes no sense to us as parents?

“People using the facilities are desperate and isolated, some of us don’t have family nearby. This centre and its staff are our lifeline.”

Mr McAughtrie explained that money for the seawall would come from a different budget.

Sarah Wood, 41, spoke about the importance of the centre being so close to her. She is registered blind and has twins aged 16 months.

A member of staff from Hamstel picks her and her children up from their home in Central Avenue and walks with them to the centre up the road.

Sarah said: “They’re wonderful here. They come and get me and push my double buggy here as I’m blind. I wouldn’t be able to come otherwise, I’m housebound and I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere else like Temple Sutton. Its impossible. They’re my lifeline.”

Hollie Wood, 21, agreed Hamstel was most welcoming to her as a young mum. She said: “I’m even having Mason’s birthday party here its the safest environment.They’ve helped me so much and we have the best facilities out of us and Temple Sutton so why close us?”

It emerged that if the council agreed to the closure then the centre, built just two and a half years ago, could be used by Hamstel School’s nursery, freeing up space inside the school to cater for a larger intake of pupils.

Shelley Johnson travels from Westcliff with her daughter Erika, one, as she attends with her sister Angela Wilson and her son Aiden, 17 months.

Shelley said; “There is obviously a financial gain here then for the school. It seems we are losing out so the school and council gain by providing school places. Surely its swapping one problem with another?

“There was no breastfeeding support at the centre in Westcliff so I came here, this centre provides so much. It needs to stay.”

Mr McAughtrie added: “It will contribute to the solution of a lack of school places but your services will still be available.”

Another mum asked: “This centre must have been needed when it was built, the need is still here in fact things are worse. What has changed?”

Mr McAughtrie said: “The biggest thing is there is significantly less funding, We believe the services can still be operated but at different locations to save on running costs.”

But parents expressed concerns about losing relationships with staff they have come to trust and not being able to access the different places.

Lorraine Walter who brings her two children to Hamstel rather than Temple Sutton because it is a nicer building with more on offer, said: “That is so disjointed. We have a centre at the moment and its better to all be under one roof.”

The council officers urged parents to make their views known through the consultation. To fill out the public consultation online, visit www.southendchildren.org/surveys and complete survey 8 – children’s centre consultation. It will close on May 15.