NO ONE can deny councils have a tough task ahead when they set a budget, especially in the age of austerity.

Increasingly difficult decisions have to be made and sadly services can be at risk.

We understand the dilemma the council officers face – they have to make sense of huge amounts of money and try to decide how to make savings. Councillors are equally as concerned but many say they are faced with an impossible task.

At the end of it, regardless of who is responsible, it is still people and, most importantly, children who will be affected by any children’s centre closures.

Sometimes you have to take a step back from the statistics and figures and think exactly how a minor change can make a huge difference to those who rely on the service.

Yes the Government has made cuts but we need to save vital services and deal with those cuts separately. If we blame any closures on the Government that does not change the effect.

This is why The Argus launched the Save Our Centres campaign – to draw attention to the effect on the city’s families if these centres close and to urge those with the power to save them to look at other options.