A WINCHMORE Hill children's centre will be axed as Government budget cuts hit Enfield, the council has announced.

In proposals which open to public consultation today, Enfield Council plan to close the centre based at the Holy Trinity Church in Green Lanes, with families being asked to use the centre in Hazelwood Road in Palmers Green instead.

Councillors blame the closure on Government cuts which require them to save £822,000 from the children's centre budget by March next year.

Councillor Ayfer Orhan, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “The council’s aim has been to focus on the delivery of services while reducing costs.

“The council wants to hear from families, workers, experts and those who use our centres about what they think of these proposals.

The 24 centres across the borough provide childcare and a range of family services to children aged under five, with nine offering full day-care.

Funding now comes through the Government's newly-introduced Early Intervention Grant, which the council must divide between a number of children and young people's services, including work with teenage parents and youth crime programmes.

The consultation ends on July 31, after which the plan will go before the council's cabinet for a decision.