More than half of Trafford's Children's Centres could close

Trafford Council (Greater Manchester), is proposing to close 10 of the borough’s 16 children’s centres, while turning the remaining six centres into ‘hubs’ and increasing outreach support for vulnerable families.

Under the plans, which are currently out for consultation until January, Davyhulme, Urmston, Firswood, Stretford, Broomwood and Timperley, Hale Barns, Hale and Bowden, Sale Moor, Sale Central and Ashton upon Mersey children’s centres would close.

In order to make savings of £34m by 2015, Trafford Council has to reduce its spending on Children and Young People’s Services by £4.9m next year.

Re-organising the city’s children’s centres is just one option being considered by the council, along with making changes to youth and complex and additional needs services.

Within its consultation document Trafford council claims that the ‘needs of children and young people have changed since the first children’s centres were set-up ten years ago.’

It goes on to say that, ‘It is now the right time to review what the children’s centres are delivering, but still recognising what is good about the functions of children’s centres and how we should build on these.’

A review of services such as midwifery, speech and language and Book Start are also expected to be carried out by the council next March.

Parents, carers and other individuals from across Trafford have launched a campaign to fight against the council’s proposals to close ten of its 16 children’s centres.

According to the Save Trafford Sure Start campaign group, which has received the support of Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green and Wythenshawe and Sale East MP Paul Goggins, the council has gone back on its promise to keep all of its children’s centres open.

Kate Green MP said, ‘Children’s centres provide real help to thousands of children and parents across Trafford and it would be a real tragedy if some of them were forced to close when they have just begun to pay real dividends.

'I will do everything possible to fight to keep our centres open and I will be joining local parents in their campaign to make sure that that happens.’

Anna Stopes, a parent who is campaigning against the cuts, said, 'I moved to Stretford when I was heavily pregnant with my second child. Through Surestart I was able to access breastfeeding support with my baby, sleep clinics, and most importantly meet people and make a community in my new location. I feel very strongly that without Surestart I would not have been able to access those services which make such a difference to new parents. The council's proposals would put my nearest centre 45 mins away.'

She added, 'We are hoping to get the consultation period extended since the council have failed to follow guidelines on several points.'

Deborah Bronwlee, Trafford’s corporate director of Children and Young People’s Services has confirmed that a meeting to discuss the children’s centre proposals consultation will be held in the next couple of weeks.

She said, ‘The council is committed to providing the best possible, sustainable, effective support to children and families.

‘The comments and views of parents and other interested parties are all important and will be carefully considered and discussed before the council makes a final decision. This extra meeting will give parent forum representatives the opportunity to discuss the proposals further.’