Parents and their supporters fighting the closure of St Paul's Sure Start Children's Centre in Walkden have blasted politicians of all mainstream parties for targeting their children as part of cuts in children's services.
"The politicians must take the blame, the Council are just as bad as the Government, they're as bad as each other" says Vicky Campbell, whose two children, aged one and two, attend the Centre.
"Why cut our service?" she asks "The children will suffer and so will the parents. We've hardly got anything anyway; why don't they cut something else? We need these services."
Salford Council, acting on cuts from the ConDem Government, is proposing to axe Sure Start services currently offered within 15 buildings, leaving just four `hubs' based in six buildings in order to slash over £1million from its budget.
Amongst those centres to be cut are Fiddlers Lane in Irlam, Charlestown and Lower Kersal Sure Children's Centre and St Paul's Heathside in Walkden, while other `satellite sites' across the city are also being closed (for full details see previous Salford Star article – click here)
At St Paul's, as well as Fiddlers Lane, there's a growing campaign to fight the closure that has seen almost two thousand people sign a petition, including babies adding their thumbprints, while local Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley has called the proposals `disgusting'.
Last week, parents and their supporters, including local election Independent candidate, Paul Woodburn, gathered outside St Paul's to tell how the closure will affect them personally.
"I've been using the centre for about two years, and grandma comes every week with the little ones to get them to interact with the other children and things like that" explained Aimee Mellor
"It's quite important for us as my son has brittle bone disease and I can't put him in a nursery unattended" she added "The centre has brought him on loads. He'll now interact with adults and children, while his sister used to be frightened of anyone looking at her but she'll smile now. My son loves it here, he's made friends and has got loads of confidence. He wouldn't leave grandma's side when he first got here. I think it's devastating that they're thinking about shutting it."
Salford Council wants to close the Walkden centre to save money on the cost of running the building and expects parents to go to the Little Hulton centre instead - but Aimee argues that it won't help her son
"It will be too full for him to go, plus grandma doesn't drive" she said "I've also heard they would refuse her on entry because it's that busy. I don't really know about politics, I've always sided with Labour, but I think it's stupid what they are trying to take away from the community."
Vicky Campbell also believed that those currently using the St Paul's centre will find it hard to get to Little Hulton…
"Parents can't get there if they haven't got any transport" she explained "It's waiting for a bus, which you can't get around here apart from on the main road. This place is the only thing that keeps parents from being stuck in the house, to be able to just come here and talk to other parents who are in the same boat and share any problems."
Vicky added that, as well as the "amazing" job the staff have done with her children, making them more confident and outgoing, she herself had benefited from the courses offered at St Paul's, which have ranged from first aid to designing story books for her children… "It will just be a terrible shame if they close this place down…"
Showing his support for the parents and staff last week was also Salford City UNISON branch secretary Steven North, who lives locally and went to St Paul's school to which the Sure Start centre is attached…
"I think it should stay open, Sure Start is possibly the best thing the last Labour Government did and to close this would be really damaging for the most positive aspect of its legacy" he said "I hope that the local councillors who are offering support to these people actually do deliver and really put a case to the likes of Councillor Merry to keep it open. UNISON is supportive of this campaign because it is needed locally, it's important to the community."
Elaine Humphreys used to work at St Paul's for 18 months, firstly as a volunteer and then as a paid part time worker until her contract wasn't renewed at the end of March.
"I worked at St Paul's and know the mums and what they do here, it's just going to be absolutely horrible, a waste of money and a shame if they close it" she said "Hundreds use it, mums can just drop in and use the facilities. I was talking to a mum yesterday and she said `If they close it where am I going to go? This is right on the doorstep and I would have to walk all the way to Little Hulton'.
"The Government has not given enough, the Council has cut the budget, I blame them both" she added "They seem to be giving money away to other places yet they're targeting lots of vulnerable people. It's not just here, there's the escorts on the buses, Care On Call…it's horrendous. They just seem to be hitting the elderly, disabled and babies and children. Nobody's getting any benefit from the money that's going to the Salford Reds, the Stadium and these other things, it's ridiculous.
"Everyone around here is supporting this campaign" Elaine enthused "But it's about trying to get the word out further – `Come on, let's wake up!'"
For further details see the Facebook site Fight The Closure of St Paul's Sure Start Children's Centre Walkden – click here
Sign the online petition – click here
See also the Facebook site Fight The Closures of Our Sure Start Centres Irlam and Cadishead – click here
There is also a Salford Council consultation on the Sure Start cuts which runs until June 30th - to have your say click here
*** This Saturday 17th May there is a Say `No!' to Salford Council Cuts Rally and Fun Day on the lawns of Salford Civic Centre on Chorley Road in Swinton. Salford Council is currently trying to ban this but the Salford Star understands that it will definitely go ahead – more details to follow…
Photo by Steven Speed
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