The reshaping of children’s centres in South Cambs will go ahead after Cambridgeshire County councillors voted 31 to 22 in favour of the decision.

Yesterday’s decision followed a debate on the response to a 10-week consultation from 2,280 people, and as part of the plans Melbourn’s centre would close to be replaced with ‘a child and family zone’, and Bassingbourn’s children’s centre would be re-designated.

Having reviewed the consultation responses, the plans will now include more outreach services sited in areas across the county. This change will see £100,000 of a planned £1m saving re-invested in the service.

County councillor Simon Bywater said: “We have listened carefully to what people have been saying during the consultation and I want to reassure people we will continue to listen as we begin to implement these proposals. I recognise that feelings have run high during this debate, but I now call on all councillors, partners and communities to come together to help take these plans forward so we can fulfill the ambition of creating a service for more families to get the right help, at the right time and in the right place.

“This decision means we remain heavily committed to early intervention for families, something we believe is essential. The new service is intended to be embedded alongside our district early help teams, health and other community services providing a flexible, targeted and responsive service in order to meet the needs of a rapidly changing and growing county.”