FAMILIES say they are ‘devastated’ by the upcoming closure of an Oxford children’s centre.

The Florence Park Children’s Centre, in Rymers Lane, held its last ‘stay and play’ session on Wednesday. The centre will hold a final open session on February 15 then close on February 28.

It is one casualty of the £6m cut made by Oxfordshire County Council to funding for open access services at 44 centres.

Mums who use the Florence Park centre voiced their sadness at its closure, with most ineligible to use replacement services only open to vulnerable families.

Lubna Arshad, who takes her 22-month-old son Heera to the centre, said it was ‘a fundamental part’ of her life.

The East Oxford mum said: “When you have a baby its really important to have a safe place to be able to talk about your experiences – not just at the doctor’s – and ask for help with things like breastfeeding.

“Women need to have somewhere to talk and learn, rather than just sitting at home in a flat or house, and be part of a community. It’s the one thing that gets some people out and now it’s closing it just makes you think ‘where do you go?’

“Our children are the future and it’s important to get the early years right. It seems wrong we can’t provide somewhere where anyone can go for support.”

Luisa Izzy, a mum-of-two who only moved to the area two months ago with husband Daryl Green, said the centre was one of the only places she could take her son to socialise when she first arrived in Oxford.

She has been coming to Florence Park Children’s Centre with sons Elliott, three, and Cosmo, five months.

The 37-year-old added: “When I moved here I didn’t really know anyone. But the staff there were just fantastic and we have made friends here. It has been amazing just to be able to come and support in a safe environment, so it was quite a shock to find out the centre was closing.”

Sharon Crockett, of Marsh Road, previously brought her three grandchildren, Safiah, five, Cleo, three, and Theo, seven months, to ‘stay and play’.

She said: “Everyone who uses the centre is just absolutely devastated. The only free activity now in the area for under-fives is the ‘rhyme time’ sessions at Temple Cowley Library.

“It’s going to be a terrific blow.”

The county council says it cannot afford to offer universal access to children’s centres because of government cuts to its funding. Instead, eight ‘children and family centres’ will replace them, including centres in Barton, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys. These will only offer services to the most vulnerable.

The local authority has encouraged community groups to try and continue providing services and has made some ‘transition’ money available to help them do this. A spokesman said: “We are continuing to work closely with community groups.”