A CAMPAIGNING organisation in Worcester has criticised a council review into the future of children's centres - saying it fears closures.

Worcester Trades Union Council has called for widespread public debates to take place before any decisions are finalised.

As your Worcester News first revealed last month Worcestershire County Council has placed the future of 36 sites under review.

A consultation which is now closed has attracted more than 2,000 responses, with bosses sifting through the feedback.

The trade union council, which is the umbrella organisation representing the wider union movement across Worcestershire, has formally objected to any closures, saying it is "shocked" by the speed at which the authority is moving.

The group has hit out at the consultation process, saying it feels decisions around each site may already have been made.

The claim has today been rejected by the authority, which says any specific changes would be subject to further consultation in the summer after long, detailed and careful consideration.

Peter McNally, the chairman, said: "There was no mention in the consultation paper about how to find out more and have your say.

"For an exercise of this nature we'd have expected a public meeting to be called for each centre where those interested could learn more and put across constructive questions.

"And yet this opportunity has been ignored - why is that?

"We're baffled about why the document utterly failed to spell out how and when vital decisions are to be taken.

"It really looks like little more than a paper exercise for a decision already taken.

"It’s almost as if the council doesn't really want the public to be involved in and influence decisions over any closures.

"It's vital to get this exercise right - we call on the council to scrap this exercise and start again.

"The new consultation should be based on the availability of full documentary information and critically must include a public meeting at every centre so a full and accurate analysis can take place."

Most of the children's centres are attached to schools and offer a range of services to young people, parents and carers.

It typically includes health advice, parenting programmes, antenatal support, early years education like 'stay and play' classes and speech and language help.

No decisions have yet been taken and bosses say they are unlikely to reach any conclusions until June.

The council has insisted the review is about getting new ideas to maximise their use, with concern too many are closed on weekends and tend to operate 9am-5pm in the week.

Councillor Marcus Hart, the cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "I would like to emphasise that this consultation is about the future use of children's centre buildings in general and not about the closure of any specific centres.

“By listening to the needs of service users, we are trying to ensure the best possible support services and facilities for families with children aged 0-19 years old.

"This first round of consultation will shape our decisions on the future use of children's centre buildings and we will be formally consulting with residents on any proposed changes.

“As well as providing for current service users, our hope is that some buildings will, in future, fulfil a wide range of functions that support and appeal to all members of the community."

Bosses at County Hall are trying to save around £25 million a year and are currently drawing up plans to find a new outside provider for an integrated service for 0-19 year-olds, which will launch in October.

They are still sifting through the 2,000-plus responses.