BATTLING mums have launched a campaign to save a “fantastic” facility that could be axed as part of a £55m cost-cutting drive.

Supporters of the Waterside Children’s Centre will today stage a protest march through Hythe in a bid to persuade Hampshire County Council to spare the facility.

As reported in the Daily Echo, 28 of the county’s Sure Start children’s centres are under threat of closure – the equivalent of losing one in three. Surviving centres could be offloaded on to the private or voluntary sector, raising fears that parents will have to pay for services that are currently free.

The proposals aim to help the county council save £6m.

Waterside Children’s Centre occupies a smart new building at Waterside Primary School in Ashford Crescent, Hythe.

Campaigners say it will probably survive the cuts. However, they are incensed at the possible privatisation of the service and the potential loss of family outreach workers employed by the county council.

Protesters include Jean Chalmers, of Hythe, who has an 18-month-old daughter.

She said: “We don’t know which 28 centres are going to close but the reduction will inevitably result in a higher number of children attending each centre and parents having to travel further. It could also result in families being charged to attend sessions that are currently free.

“The Waterside is seen as an area with only ‘moderate’ poverty but many of the families who attend the centre will see new charges as a cost they can ill afford, particularly with unemployment on the up and the cost of living rocketing.”

The campaigners will stage a buggy push through Hythe to raise awareness of the centre’s work and hope people will sign a petition to be presented to the county council on March 7.

Children’s centres provide support and services to families with children aged under five, including youngsters with special needs. Services include childcare, healthcare and access to specialist services such as speech therapy.

A 12-week public consultation ends of March 14.

A county council spokes-man said centres could be merged under Government guidelines which state that services should focus on the needs of disadvantaged families and children with specific needs. He added: “Chil-dren’s Services, in common with other departments of the county council, must ensure it makes the best use of available resources.”