THE fate of a children’s centre used by Middlewich families has been revealed as Cheshire East Council reassure the public that it will not close.


The council has announced that Sandbach Children’s Centre, used by Middlewich families, along with Broken Cross, Knutsford and Nantwich and Rural children’s centres, is not being closed but instead used as a ‘satellite centre’.


In a recent statement, Cheshire East Council said that it plans to still deliver some services from each building including new parent groups, baby massage, tiny tot’s playgroups, midwifery and stay-and-play sessions, and that Sandbach centre will be leased from ‘local school academy trusts.’


The plans also include a mobile service, which is ‘in the process of being procured’ by the council which will deliver ‘tailored services’ to rural areas. The council has also assured that there will be no loss of capacity.


Out of 74 services across the four centres, only seven will be affected, although the council has not yet confirmed which these are.


Cllr Liz Durham, cabinet member for children and families, said: “Cheshire East Council is committed to ensuring that those children and families who are in greatest need receive the support they require through a modernised children's service that delivers the right service in the right place and at the right time.


“Rather than closing children’s centre services in four of the borough’s locations, the council is actually protecting services via a different deliver model and broadening their reach into our wider communities. No centres are closing.