HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition in support of Wellington Children’s Centre, which could close following a consultation on the future of similar centres across Somerset.

Mum-of-three Rachel Condick, who uses the centre based at Beech Grove Primary School, set up the petition on Facebook last week and it already has 637 signatures.

She said: “I am asking everyone to fight to save an amazing centre and team who go above and beyond for families in our town.”

The WWN reported earlier this month that Somerset County Council plans a network of eight family centres in areas of highest need and demand that would serve the whole county and replace 24 Sure Start Children’s Centres.

The eight centres would act as main hubs for services and co-ordinate work in the surrounding area. The other 16 buildings that currently have Sure Start children’s centre status would continue to offer early childhood services including education and nursery places to help meet demand for spaces.

For the full story see this week’s Wellington Weekly News.