The closure of a children's centre will have a “negative impact” on one of the country’s most deprived towns, says a council leader.

Cllr Tim Gibson (Lab) of Swale council has sent an open letter to Kent County Council (KCC) in response to the authority’s plans to cut services at Seashells in Sheerness.

Swale’s rainbow coalition has warned against the move saying the proposals “show a lack of understanding” for the needs of people living on Sheppey.

Cllr Gibson wrote to KCC’s cabinet members for integrated children’s services and was backed by other party leaders – Cllr Mike Baldock (Swale Inds) and Cllr Rich Lehmann (Green).

He said: “We are deeply concerned by the current Family Hub proposals.

“Whilst we understand that they are in a difficult financial situation, as many councils are, the negative impact scrapping the contract with Children and Families will have on our residents will far outweigh any potential savings.

“Seashells provides important trusted services throughout people’s lives, from enabling young people to have the best start in life to helping adults build confidence and regain employment.

“Marginalised communities will be most impacted by the relocation of the Family Hub services to Sheppey Gateway - it will create unnecessary barriers to the free, open, impartial and trusted services already being provided.

“By splintering the existing relationships with families, reducing the service offer and creating a reliance on digital channels, this proposal will simply not be a good enough replacement for the current offer.

“KCC’s proposals show a lack of understanding for the local needs of our community on the island, and we cannot understand why they would want to reduce crucial services in the short term, which will undoubtedly have a significant impact in the longer term, such as greater pressure on social services.

“We hope that KCC will work with us to find a more suitable solution for all, but we strongly oppose the current proposal.”

Sheerness is one of the most deprived areas in the country with around two in five children living in poverty, which at 42% is more than double the national average of 17%.

Meanwhile, 28% of under-five are overweight.

Teenage birth rates are also well above the national average.

Hundreds of people showed their support for the Save our Seashells campaign group on Saturday, September 7 in a demonstration along Sheerness seafront.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Kevin McKenna attended the rally alongside KCC’s Sheppey representative Cllr Mike Whiting.

The Sheppey centre and Millmead in Margate are part of the county council’s Family Hubs initiative but have recently entered a period of consultation.

The authority, which is proposing cutting the funding it provides the centres from March, is under pressure to make drastic cuts as it looks to reduce a deficit of up to £100 million in the next two years.

KCC says it has Family Hub services available for Millmead users at Margate and Cliftonville, and proposed provision at Sheppey Gateway for those who visit Seashells.

Previously, Cllr Sue Chandler (Con), cabinet member for integrated children’s services at KCC, explained the thinking behind the planned cuts.

She said: “Following the introduction of our new Family Hub model across Kent last year, the management cost for these two commissioned services creates a duplication as KCC is also paying for the management of the in-house services on offer at KCC Family Hubs across the districts of Swale and Thanet.

“By not renewing these contracts when they naturally come to an end in March 2025, we can make a much-needed efficiency saving whilst continuing to provide essential services for families and young people in these areas.”

For full details of the proposal click here and to sign the petition click here.

The consultation is set to finish on Sunday, September 22.