THE county council is suggesting a radical change to services in Gloucestershire.

A consultation is now underway to gauge support for a web of new children’s centres across the county.

The overhaul will see 16 new Children and Family Centres created in key parts of the county which will increase the support currently given to kids from zero to five years to zero to 11 years.

Cirencester, as Cotswold District’s largest town, would house the area’s Children and Family Centre, with other bases across the county.

The consultation reads: “We are proposing to create 16 Children and Family centres in the county’s most deprived areas, which bring together staff from different organisations including; health visitors, midwives and children centre staff. This would offer vulnerable families the support they need from one place.”

A secondary network of 30 children’s centres – with Cotswold District's in Tetbury, Fairford, Northleach and Stow-on-the-Wold - will be used for early education, childcare, informal community activities and office space for professionals who work with families.

Drop in sessions will be held on March 16 to find out about the changes. One will be held at Moreton Town Council from 10am to noon and another at The Old Moore Cottage Hospital in Bourton-on-the-Water from 2pm to 4pm.

Another was held in Cirencester Library this week.

To find out more and to complete a survey about the change go to http://bit.ly/20jhx7Z.