CAMPAIGNERS have been left devastated after controversial plans to close 43 children's centres across Hampshire have been approved.

Service users fear the "devastating" cull of Sure Start facilities will leave parents without the early help needed to avoid crisis for them or their children.

They will now have to travel to one of 11 district hubs for the most serious support, although Hampshire County Council is looking to increase other services in communities.

Protesters were pessimistic before the meeting but turned out with trade unionists to make their last stand in Winchester this afternoon.

Babies burbled throughout as the council's children's service boss explained why the £8.5m cuts were being made.

Steve Crocker said: "There's currently a complex range of services and families tell us they want one source of help.

"We think we should be focussing on families as a whole rather than individual children.

"We mustn't provide a 20th century service for the 21st century."

The proposals have sparked widespread protest over the last few months, with marches and petitions culminating in a demonstration on the streets of Winchester in May.

Lead campaigner Catherine Ovenden has previously pledged to raise money for a legal challenge but missed today's meeting through illness.

Cllr Jackie Porter, Lib Dem spokeswoman for children, told the meeting that rising demand would require more staff, wiping out the council's savings in the long run, while mothers' mental health could be neglected.

After approving the scheme, Cllr Keith Mans, the Conservative executive member for children's services, said: “The 11 children’s centres that are to double as the Family Support Service hub have been selected on the basis that they are in an area of high deprivation and are the most used centres in that district. It is important to understand that this will not be the only location delivering services. Along with the outreach work that staff carry out and the various health services in local communities, there will be a wide range of services that all families can access, being provided by local community groups and independent providers.”

He approved four new proposals following a scrutiny meeting on Friday morning.

They involved monitoring of centre closures and mental health, a digital strategy to inform parents of how they could access services and support for community groups wanting to help at centres set for closure.

Mum-of-one Lynn Tolmon said the decision was "devastating". 

"I don't know how they're going to keep mums on the right side of the knife edge that the children's centres are so great at balancing," she said.

The additional recommendations were "nonsense," she added.

"We don't need information about support - we need support.

"The children's centres are like walking in to see a group of friends. You're not going to get that from a website and you're not going to get it from a hub."