FEEDBACK sessions for an ambitious shake-up of children’s centres should be held in outlying villages, insists a Silsden councillor.

Coun Adrian Naylor has demanded that consultation meetings are held across the entire district rather than only in big towns.

He is angry that three sessions are being held in central Keighley but none in local villages where children’s centres were threatened with closure.

The future of Daisy Chain in Silsden and Treetops in Haworth were both in doubt under Bradford Council’s original proposals for the district’s centres.

Following public consultation the council recently published revised plans which could see both facilities – along with children’s centres in Highfield, Exley Head, Strong Close and Braithwaite – brought together as one ‘cluster’.

Between July and October the council has arranged eight public feedback sessions, two in Shipley, three in Bradford, and three at Keighley Civic Centre on North Street.

The second of Keighley’s drop-in feedback sessions was held last Friday, and the last one will be on October 8 from 10am to 11.30am.

Coun Naylor, who is both a Bradford district and Silsden town councillor, said he had already raised his concerns with Bradford’s leadership.

He said: “The question I raised was, why aren’t consultation sessions held in our area when the issue is about our area?

“Whenever we have consultations it appears the people of Silsden are forced to travel to Keighley to register their views and comments.

“If you have a young family and no transport how are you expected to travel to somewhere else when your local centre is being affected?

“I don’t think it’s good enough.”

Bradford Council’s revised plans for its 41 children’s centres aims to slash an estimated £2.4 million from the running costs in 2015/16.

Each cluster will have a dedicated staff team offering services from all the centres, along with visiting midwives, health visitors and other ing professionals.

Services available to families with under-fives will include: parenting support; early education and learning; information, advice and guidance; return to work, advice; and family support in times of need.

Coun Ralph Berry, the council’s Executive Member for Children’s Services, said the needs of Bradford families were changing at the same time as government funding had been cut.

He added: “I encourage all those who use the centres or have an interest to come along to one of the feedback sessions.”

Michael Jameson, Bradford’s strategic director of children’s services, said extensive consultation had given his department a clear idea of what people valued most from the children’s centres.

He said: “With the new proposal, families will benefit from more co-ordinated services at times of greatest need.”