ESSEX County Council bosses insist they will be able to reach out to more people despite plans to cut the number of children’s centres across the county.

Under the proposals, 37 Sure Start children’s centres in Essex will become just 12 full-time family centres by March 2017.

The council is proposing one full-time site in each borough, which will open for 50 hours per week and will aim to offer a range of services for youngsters from ages zero to 19 under one roof.

The other 25 Sure Start centres, which include Brentwood’s Cherry Tree and Sunshine centres, could become part-time “delivery sites” instead.

During a public consultation over the proposals, one Brentwood parent said: “I don’t think so many should be closed.

“Queues for babies services at the Brentwood hubs are already long and I haven’t been able to join any groups as they are all fully booked, and I’ve been on the waiting list a year.

“My baby is nearly one so he has missed out, and your plans will make these resources even more limited.”

But Dick Madden, Tory councillor responsible for adults and children, insists the authority will be able to support more families under the new system.

He said: “This has been going on for two years, and we have been listening to what people want and are creating a system that engages all services.

“It’s like a building without walls.

“Children’s centres are just one part of what families need.

“Having hubs means several centres are put together.

“What the plans mean is that we can work to bring more of the delivery sites across the county.

“It means we can go out to the village halls, the community centres and even do some home visits for people who can’t easily access services at the main hubs.

“The aim is to be a more flexible service.”

Mr Madden said the authority was able to improve services after cutbacks two years ago, which saw the number of children’s centres reduced from 87 to 35.

He said: “It’s about helping vulnerable people, and we are working with more families.

“Before we reduced the number of centres, we worked with 34,000 families. Now we help 42,500.”