THE future of Bordon’s Chase Children’s Centre hangs in the balance as the county council cuts its children’s services budget.

The council has launched a public consultation on a remodelling, set to see the closure of the Chase Children’s Centre in Bordon and Heath Children’s Centre in Petersfield, leaving Bushy Leaze in Alton as the council’s family support service hub in the district.

The Chase and Heath will be made available for “alternative community use” - but what form that will take remains unclear.

With pressure to meet a funding shortfall of £98m by April 2017, the county council has decreed that, of this, £21.5m must be saved from the children’s services budget.

It is hoped £8.5m of savings could be delivered by combining centres and working out of fewer buildings. These changes will amalgamate the work of early help hubs, children’s centre services and youth support services.

Staff numbers (300 across Hampshire) are expected to fall by up to 60 per cent from early 2017.

Keith Mans, deputy leader and executive lead member for children’s services at the county council, said the proposed family support service would “better meet the needs” of vulnerable families with children up to 19 (25 for those with learning difficulties or a disability).

“During the 2015 public consultation on options to help manage the county council’s £98m funding shortfall by April 2017, people told us that services for children - particularly the vulnerable - were among those they wanted us to continue to deliver,” he said.

“With public sector budgets continuing to be reduced by central Government, it is vital that we make sure the available resources we do have in Hampshire are focused on those who have high levels of need of our help, care and protection.”

Children’s centres have operated in Hampshire since 2004, and work with families with children aged up to four to help support a child’s development and readiness for school. The centres also provide advice on parenting, healthy lifestyles, employment and training.

Action for Children operates the Chase, and 52 other centres in Hampshire, on behalf of the county council. Its operational director Liz Rowe said: “Our absolute priority is the wellbeing of the children and families we work with at the Chase.

“We know that getting children and families help early can significantly improve life chances. It is clear to see how valued children’s centres are in their community, operating as vital hubs linking families with health, social care and other services.

“We understand the difficulties faced by local authorities when tasked with reducing costs so we will work closely with the county council to ensure any future model meets the needs of children and families we support.”

Most children’s centres are in schools or community venues. Chase is in the grounds of Bordon infant and junior schools.