A ‘VITAL’ family support service in Romsey could be significantly slashed according to a council review.

Hampshire County Council have launched a public consultation to consider merging more than 50 family centres offering support and social services to parents and children across the county, to just 11 hubs in each district.

The council is proposing to develop a new Family Support Service for more vulnerable families in the county and three Sure Start centres in Romsey are under review.

The Little Oaks group at Romsey Primary School and Watermeadow at Stockbridge Primary are both at risk of closure.

Spring Meadow in Alamein is currently under consideration to become the hub for the Test Valley district.

The plans could save the council £8.5million with the new support service, which would be designed to work closely with Supporting Troubled Families Programme.

Cllr Keith Mans, deputy leader for Hampshire County Council, said: “The proposal to form a single, joined-up Family Support Service would involve reshaping how early help support for families is delivered in the longer term, to ensure that those who do not meet the threshold for statutory social care, continue to receive the support they need in the future.”

With the potential to come into force in 2017, the proposal will see services change from offering support to all families, to focusing on more vulnerable parents and children and investing money in their treatment.

Drop-in services would be cut entirely and there would be an emphasis on home visits and telephone calls for support instead of attending group sessions with fellow parents and talking with volunteers.

People will now have ten weeks to have their say until May 3 by visiting www.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services-consultation.

The Family Support Service would also see some groups come with a charge of up to £9 per session as opposed to 50p or even free meetings.

The council has also revealed in their proposal that the cutbacks could see around 60 per cent of staff lose their jobs.

Hampshire County Council is proposing to develop a single service by merging the work of children's centres, Early Help Hubs, Youth Support Services and work with the Supporting Troubled Families Programme.