AT least one of West Somerset's four dedicated children's centres could be closed under proposals put forward by Somerset County Council.

The authority is asking people for their views on the way it runs its children's service, warning that money is tight and some centres are under-performing.

The Conservative-run council is proposing to retain just 14 of its 47 children's centres in their current form - and only those deemed to be in the most deprived areas would be saved.

Around a dozen others could be "deregistered" and run as "key community access points", while the remainder would see children's and family services operating in other public buildings such as libraries and doctors' surgeries.

A spokesman for the authority stressed the council had no firm plans to close any centres but was merely putting forward proposals for consultation.

However, the consultation is based on a document called 'Proposal for Change' which reveals that West Somerset's current quota of four children's centres in Alcombe, Dulverton, Watchet and Williton could be cut to three under a new area heading of "Taunton Deane and West Somerset".

It is not clear whether the newly-labelled area includes centres in nearby Bishops Lydeard and Wiveliscombe, although the document says the patch would largely follow district council areas.

The Taunton area is listed separately and would see its current nine centres reduced to two.

"We are currently in the process of a public consultation and no decisions will be made until that has been carried out," said a county council spokesman.

"We are asking parents and members of the public for their views by visiting http://www.somersetconsults.org.uk/consult.ti">www.somersetconsults.org.uk/consult.ti and completing our online questionnaire. 

"Our priority is to ensure that a greater proportion of our resources goes on frontline delivery, rather than management and buildings.

"We are proposing to continue all the activities our children's centres provide but will be looking hard at where potential savings can be made, and this may lead to delivering the same services in a different way.

"We are looking at how to do this in the most efficient way and that might mean sharing buildings such as village halls, libraries or GP surgeries to keep costs down."

Andy Lewis of the West Somerset Labour branch accused the council of carrying out a "public-but-secret" consultation.

"On the website the council is asking for views, but little or no publicity has been given," he said.

"The questions asked in the consultation are loaded and the reality is that minds in County Hall have already been made up.

"I understand that the preferred plan is to close 27 of the 41 county-supported children's centres and voluntary organisations have been told they can pick up the slack.

"But voluntary groups live a hand-to-mouth existence, in part because of uncertainties about funding from local authorities."

The consultation on the proposals opened on September 2 and runs until October 28.

For people unable to access it online, copies can be requested by telephoning Mary Hellier on 01823 368280.

On its website, the county council states: "At the moment some children's centres are not performing as well as we would like.

"Over the next few years, there may be less money available to run children's centre services in Somerset.

"Because of this, we are thinking about making some changes."

The council said the survey could be completed anonymously, and county councillors are expected to discuss the proposals in November.

As well as overhauling its provision of centres, the proposals also include reducing the number of "cluster managers" from 14 to five and the possibility of providing more flexible services by offering help and advice during the evenings and at weekends.

The majority of funding would be focused on families deemed to be in the most need of additional support, which the council believes will help to drive up standards by making children better prepared for school.

Currently, the county council's children's centres offer help to families with children aged up to four.

Services include parenting information and advice, support to ensure young children get a healthy start in life and helping their parents find work and training.

At the moment those services are available at 151 venues across Somerset, including 41 dedicated children's centres.

The council said the proposals still included plans to provide help through 151 venues, including doctors' surgeries and village halls.

But the provision of exclusive-use children's centres would be reduced from 41 to 14, with the surviving dedicated centres based "in the areas of the greatest need".