A petition with more than 6,000 signatures has been lodged to stop funding cuts at an at-risk children’s centre.

The Save Our Seashells group handed in the document to Kent County Council (KCC) after months of campaigning to stop the Sheerness hub from losing its funding.

The petition was submitted on this week by Seashells boss Jim Duncan and hub manager Kate Townsend-Blazier.

Cllr Mike Whiting, who represents Sheppey on KCC, says it will trigger a debate at the authority's full council on Thursday, November 7.

The authority plans to stop the grants from March as it is under pressure to make drastic cuts as it looks to reduce a deficit of up to £100 million in the next two years.

KCC’s consultation on the proposals, which would also see The Millmead in Margate see its funding axed, would save it £400,000.

It said Family Hub services will be available for Millmead users at Margate and Cliftonville, and proposed a provision at Sheppey Gateway for those who visit Seashells.

The consultation ended on September 22 after backlash from families and staff.

Hundreds of people showed their support for the Save our Seashells campaign group on September 7 in a demonstration along Sheerness seafront.

Meanwhile, the MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Kevin McKenna, has called on the government to support the centre which he called a “lifeline” for the community.

In a letter sent to the Secretary of State on Monday, October 14 he asked for direct funding support if the cuts go ahead.

He said: “Seashell’s potential closure would have a huge impact on local families, carers and children.

“The proposals proffer diminished services in wholly unsuitable alternative sites, which are not only not set up for children but also the presence of children and families there would negatively impact existing vulnerable adult users.

“I do not believe that the current proposals actually reflect either the transition costs to deliver the planned, less effective options, or increases in other costs that will build up as under-met need and demand for other services grow as a result of losing this high impact, high outcome intervention model.”

Mr McKenna also pointed out that the centre is the busiest of the seven family hubs in Swale, with two in three people who use the services in the borough going to Seashells.

Many of these users are from Sheerness which is one of the most deprived areas in the country.

Around two in five children live in poverty in the area, which at 42% is more than double the national average of 17%. Meanwhile, 28% of under-five are overweight.

Swale council has already thrown its weight behind the campaign last month as well.

Council leader, Cllr Tim Gibson (Lab), said that the move showed “a lack of understanding” from KCC.

Previously, Cllr Sue Chandler (Con), cabinet member for integrated children’s services at KCC, explained the thinking behind the planned cuts.

She said: “Following the introduction of our new Family Hub model across Kent last year, the management cost for these two commissioned services creates a duplication as KCC is also paying for the management of the in-house services on offer at KCC Family Hubs across the districts of Swale and Thanet.

“By not renewing these contracts when they naturally come to an end in March 2025, we can make a much-needed efficiency saving whilst continuing to provide essential services for families and young people in these areas.”