Peterborough City Council earmarked the eight centres for closure earlier this year as it looked to shave £17m from its budget, including £2.4m across children’s services.
But despite Unite-organised protests by local parents last month, councillors last week voted to press on with the closures, which will save the council £110,000 a year.
Stuart Mathers, Unite’s representative in the city, said the union will continue its battle: “Our fight continues to ensure play is still a priority and is offered to families at the centres.”
The closures will take place this year but currently all the centres are earmarked for community use.
A spokesman for Peterborough City Council said the authority is in talks with community and voluntary groups about retaining play services at "some of the centres".
"Already some parish councils have expressed an interest about getting involved," he said.
The council also says after-school clubs and the government’s commitment to increasing free childcare places for two- and three-year-olds will provide “the opportunity for children to learn through play”.
However, Mathers said: “What the protest highlighted is that a play service is still needed and after-school clubs are not enough to meet the needs of families.”
A total of eight full-time play service staff and five casual play workers will be affected by the closures, but Mathers is optimistic the staff can be redeployed within children's services.
“Some will probably take roles in wider early intervention services,” he said.
“What we will be talking to the council about is making sure their skills are not lost and they can work with the local community to ensure play services continue.”
As part of its protests against the move, Unite gathered more than 2,000 signatures from local residents.
One local foster carer who contributed to the council’s consultation on the closure plan said her local play centre was a “valuable lifeline”.
“Without these centres, the three girls I foster now may be moved on as I work Monday to Friday school hours and have no back-up for school holiday periods other than my statutory annual leave,” she said.
"Without them I have to rethink my commitment to fostering.”
