The move has been met with criticism from the leader of Telford & Wrekin Council’s Conservative group, Councillor Andrew Eade, who said the changes would be ‘devastating’ for some families.

The council’s Labour administration, which is proposing the changes, has said that it can no longer afford to provide the service at the current costs – despite investing £7.2 million in it this year.

Councillor Eade, who represents Lilleshall & Church Aston, has called on the council to abandon projects such as a planned swimming pool