An Epsom councillor has slammed Surrey county council for its proposed cuts, which would hit “those who can least afford it”, in a bid to slash £200m from its budget by 2021.

The county council has launched five separate consultations today (October 30) on cuts to children's centres, concessionary bus travel, special educational needs and disabilities, libraries and cultural services and community recycling centres.

Cllr Kate Chinn said: “The Conservative government announces the end of austerity yet we still have a conservative run council announcing swingeing cuts to services disproportionately affecting those who can least afford it.”

The county council says it is facing huge financial pressures due to reducing government grant and growing demand for children’s and adult care services.

It proposes to close 31 of its 58 children’s centres across the county, while keeping 19 centres and converting another eight into satellite centres.

A new satellite centre would be opened in Addlestone and two new main centres would be opened in Horley and Dorking, to work with children aged up to 11.

Cllr Chinn continued: “The proposed cuts will have a devastating impact and reduce the life chances for children who need help and support.

“To close 31 centres will impact the most disadvantaged families. Children’s centres are supporting parents who are in difficulty as well as parents who struggle with their parenting skills and they need to be close and accessible to the families homes.”

The Court Ward councillor added: “Is the government aware of the effects that their spending decisions will have on outcomes for Surrey’s vulnerable children?

“Is the council doing enough to make the current Government aware of the consequences of its decisions to cut local authority budgets?”

The county council is proposing to scrap free bus travel for companions of disabled people and restricting funding to travel between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays to save £400,000 a year.

Cllr Chinn said removing the concessions before 9.30am will severely impact on people with disabilities travelling to work, particularly if they need a person to assist with the journey.

She added: “Paying two full fares could mean the difference between being able to work or giving up a job.”

Surrey also proposes to close between four and six of Surrey’s 15 community recycling centres, while changing the opening hours of centres that remain open to save at least £500,000 a year.

Cllr David Hodge, leader of Surrey county council, said: “We know that some of the things we are proposing will not be popular but we have to look to change how we do things.

“By pulling together with other organisations in Surrey and working better with you and your communities, we can provide the best possible support with the resources available to us, especially to those that are most vulnerable.”

The five consultations open on October 30 until January 4 and can be found online on www.surreycc.gov.uk/consultations