PLANS for new children’s centres and pre-school buildings in Oxfordshire could be scrapped after the Government slashed funding by 20 per cent.

Twenty-six projects to build or improve children’s centres and nurseries had been promised Government funding totalling £14m under the Sure Start programme.

But that has been cut by £2.75m by the Department of Education as part of efforts to cut £1bn from its budget.

County council officers now face a race to share out the remaining £11.25m, as it must be used by next March or the Government will claw it back.

A decision on which projects will miss out is expected by the end of this month.

Louise Chapman, the council’s cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “I know it will be very disappointing but given the national financial situation it’s also understandable.

“I will be meeting council staff responsible for the projects to discuss how we cut our cloth according to the budget we have now been given.”

The 26 Oxfordshire projects are the final phase of a three-year programme due to be completed next year.

The children’s centres provide a range of services to under-fives and their families.

They were launched by the last Labour government as part of its 10-year childcare strategy to give parents access to affordable child care.

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