THREE children’s health centres face permanent closure .

Two in Colchester and one in Tendring face the axe after NHS bosses decided the buildings should be sold to save £193,000 a year.

Health bosses blamed vandalism and the legionella bug at one of the sites as reasons not to continue paying the rent.

The sites are Mistley Clinic in New Road, Mistley, Shrub End Clinic in Iceni Way, Colchester, and Monkwick Clinic, in Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester.

The buildings are owned by NHS Property Services and rented by the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Monkwick Clinic, which provides resources such as check-ups for newborn babies, has been described as a vital resource.

Staff at the site in Colchester have only just learned of the closure, which is being blamed on vandalism repairs costing £10,000 a year.

The other two sites have already been closed for a few weeks but will not be re-opened.

Dave Harris, Colchester councillor for Monkwick area (Lab), said: “I am totally opposed to it and a lot of people on my estate will be appalled.

“It is very sudden, I only heard about it this week. It provides a place to go for vulnerable and lonely mums to go to a health professional.

“It is a beacon of light in a community like this.”

Mr Harris added as area representative of Essex County Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, he had not been told of any of the closures.

Mr Harris said any vandalism at the Monkwick centre had tapered off since it peaked in January when it was broken into and flooded.

He added: “They are using the cost of a bit of security to justify this action which I think is a bit over the top.”

The Mistley Clinic has been closed since last month after legionella bacteria was found in a toilet during a routine check. However the site had not been regularly used for some time.

The Shrub End Clinic has been empty since November after Anglian Community Enterprise opted to leave and a potential new buyer has been found.

The closures were revealed in papers due to be discussed at the board meeting of the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group tomorrow.

Papers reveal it would cost £193,000 a year in rent to keep the sites open.

The contract for the sites’ services was previously held by Essex County Council.

Sam Hepplewhite, chief officer of the clinical commissioning group, said: “Virgin Care have said they don’t need these properties to provide services from April 1.

“The reason we are involved is because the money to pay the rent sits with us.”

“With that if you also have parts of a property not being used, you also have to pay for that“It was an opportunity to sell three sites that have got no services or very little services rather than use public money to pay for an empty space.” The closures come as the CCG looks to make more than £16million in savings in the next financial year.

She added the Monkwick site had “vandalised repeatedly” and at the Mistley building legionella bacteria - which can lead to a serious lung infection - was found in a toilet during routine testing.

A spokesperson for Virgin Care said: "As the incoming provider of the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service, we were not offered the opportunity to provide services from these sites."

  •  The board meeting takes place tomorrow at the McGrigor Hall, Fourth Avenue, Frinton, at 2.30pm.