A group of local mums has launched a petition to protest against Trafford Council’s “devastating” proposal to close Altrincham Children’s Centre.
The council has outlined plans to close the facility on Sinderland Road as part of its attempts to cut £24m, or 18%, from its budget in 2015/16.
Altrincham is one of a number of children’s centres in Trafford – the others are Sale, Urmston and Old Trafford – that could close under the proposals. Children’s centres were already reduced, from 16 to six, last year.
In their place, the council is proposing to introduce a “revised early help model” in order to save around £3.2m. This would centralise services for 0 to 11-year-olds at Early Help Hubs in Partington and Stretford, with one centre for 11 to 18-year-olds in Sale.
But a group of mums who regularly use the centre say the proposals are unacceptable.
Spokesperson Rhiannon Cruse told Altrincham Today: “It was a big shock when we found out and we all feel really strongly about this. We’re a group of 10 mums who met through the Sure Start activities at the centre, and we’re now firm friends.
“There’s literally something happening at the centre every day. It’s a real hub and a great place to form social bonds with people in the same area.
“From a personal perspective, I had my midwife appointments here so I didn’t have to travel to the hospital, as well as all my antenatal classes where I met the other mums.
“It’s also where we attended our breastfeeding support groups, which have been shown to have long-term economic benefits for the NHS.”
Cruse, who lives locally and works as student engagement manager at the University of Salford, has now set up an online petition to drum up support against the closure, which it says will have a “devastating and deeply felt impact on the local community”. The Keep Altrincham Children’s Centre open petition has already gained around 100 signatures.
Below: Altrincham Children’s Centre
The council’s budget report, dated October 20, confirmed that the children’s centre in Altrincham will close from April 2015 “unless any partners step forward to take on board the running and delivery costs”.
A consultation period began yesterday giving the public the opportunity to have their say on the proposals – and there’ll also be a meeting about the planned closure in Altrincham Town Hall on November 25th.
Final versions of the proposals will be put to the council by the end of January, with the final determination of the budget made at Budget Council on February 19th.
Cruse added: “It’s hugely important that all these services are integrated, and you know you can go to that one place to access all the things you need. It also helps with employment, training, benefits and lots of social stuff with the core purpose of assisting new parents.
“There are clearly budget issues and I understand that, but I would also question why the leader of Trafford Council has had a 30% pay rise when they are going to make cuts that will really affect a very specific sector of society. I urge them to reconsider where their priorities lie.”
Pictured above are (left to right): Emma Robinson, Sarah Burgess, Alison Sims, Sheena Wright, Rhiannon Cruse, Alex Madeley and Ellie Pass
