MSP urges rethink in nursery closure row

Apr 23 2009 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

MSP urges rethink in nursery closure row

AN MSP this week joined a campaign to save a nursery in Bellshill.

Central Scotland MSP Alex Neil this week called on North Lanarkshire Council to reverse its plans to close Orbiston Nursery.

The authority is proposing to close the nursery and transfer children to a new nursery class at Lawmuir Primary and expanded nursery provision at Sacred Heart.

But parents have been angered by the decision and have been campaigning against the authority’s proposals.

A public meeting was to be held this week by anxious parents who wanted to discuss the proposals further with council officials.

Kirsty Whyte, of Orbiston Nursery parents committee, said: “The news of the proposed closure was very unexpected. The nursery just received a glowing HMIE report. We feel to close the nursery on the grounds that it is not cost effective is unfair. The nursery recently received new windows, it is water-tight, and importantly the children and parents have a great relationship with the staff at Orbiston.

“The nursery actually has a waiting list. Moving the children under this time-scale is unsettling and not feasible. We don’t see the need to close it at this present time. We just feel that this move hasn’t been thought out.”

This week Mr Neil added his support to the parents’ concerns.

He said: “North Lanarkshire Council needs to, at the earliest opportunity, reverse its decision to close Orbiston Nursery and reassure worried parents that the facility will remain open.

“The current nursery should be upgraded – keeping a popular and important local educational facility open is cost effective.”

Commenting after submitting his consultation response to North Lanarkshire Council, the Central Scotland MSP said: “It would be a travesty for the local community if they were to lose this educational facility.

“The argument for closing this facility on the basis of cost does not add up because this is a popular and well attended facility.”

Anyone who had concerns over the proposals were asked to lodge their views in a consultation to the council by tomorrow (Friday).

Education bosses have plans to close the nursery by August.

Jane Liddell, head of education quality and development, said: “North Lanarkshire Council has a duty to ensure that assets held by the council contribute to the services we provide in an economic, effective and efficient manner. This is phase two of the council’s review of nursery school provision which aims to integrate all nursery term time into primary school provision.”

A decision of the outcome of the nursery closure will be taken at a future meeting of the learning and leisure services committee.