The users of six threatened leisure centre creche facilities have made a passionate plea to a council watchdog for the services to be saved.
Members of the city development scrutiny board yesterday heard how a number of options to continue creche provision at leisure centres across the city were being considered by the council - and that a full public consultation was about to be launched into the future of the facilities.
The Civic Hall meeting also heard of a petition against the closures which had more than 200 names on it.
Last month, members of the city development scrutiny watchdog expressed concern about the lack of consultation with affected parents at Rothwell, Pudsey, Scott Hall, East Leeds, Kippax and Aireborough leisure centres which the council wants to close in a bid to save £60,000 a year.
Council officers have cited falling demand, rising costs and budget pressures for the planned closures.
Following concerns by parents, the council has agreed to keep the facilities running until February.
'Need for greater promotion'
Zoe Walker, who is a member of the parents' group of all six threatened creches in Leeds, said that the service was a highly valuable one for parents, particularly those on low incomes. She said that greater promotion of the creche facilities was needed - and criticised posters at Scott Hall which said that the creche facilities had closed when, in fact, the facilities were still open. Walker said:
"There should be a way to run the creches as council services if the council had a better attitute towards them. We hope the facilities will continue to be run by the council with better promotion and be accessible to all. They are not a luxury, they're a necessity."
Mark Allman, head of sport and active recreation at Leeds council, said a lot of work had been carried out by officers since last month's scrutiny board meeting and said that a 'fully inclusive' questionnaire had been put together in consultation with the parents which would be going out shortly.
He said the public consultation would last into the new year.
Allman added that a number of options were being explored, including setting up social enterprises or co-operatives and corporate sponsorship. Two voluntary organisations have also expressed an interest in running some services.
Roundhay Conservative councillor Matthew Lobley, who had asked for the board to scrutinise the proposed closure process, said it was important the survey went out to as many people in the community as possible, not just existing users. He added:
"I do not see why there should be no level of subsidy. We subsidise other services, why should this be different?"
What do you think? Have your say in the comments section below.
