MP hits out over closure threat to Dudley children's centres

It comes after families launched a campaign against Dudley Council's proposal to reduce its number of centres in the borough from 20 to 13.

The move would save the authority £2.3 million.

The Tenterfields Children's Centre in Halesowen is one of the centres under threat from closure.

Today, Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris said: "I'm not sure that most people would agree that the council is run so efficiently that the only way that it can find these savings is by cutting essential services like children's centres. There is no justification for closing the children's centre at Tenterfields.

"The council gets a level of funding from the Government through various channels like business rates and early intervention funding. It is then the council's responsibility to make sure that it uses that money to provide the services our community needs.

"Dudley has also received an increase in public heath funding, which could be used to support many of the services that children's centres provide."

Many of the families at yesterday's protest, which was at the Hope Centre in Andrew Road in Halesowen, were users of Tenterfields Children's Centre in the town.

As well as waving placards and chanting slogans, they also signed a petition set up by Mr Morris which called on the council to keep open Tenterfields.

It now has about 70 signatures.

The centres provide children's activities, support, including access to childminding and nursery services, ante-natal services and links with Jobcentre Plus to give careers advice to parents.

Mr Morris said: "I am supporting local residents against the possible closure of Tenterfields Children's Centre.

"I think the council is making a big mistake in threatening to close it. This is a service that looks after some of the most vulnerable people in the community and the closure would have a huge impact."

He added: "The council gets money from the Government and it is up to the council to prioritise its funding.

"Of course budgets are tight for councils, like they are for Government and for most families, but the council needs to prioritise their spending.

"I think most people would agree that the children's centre is exactly the kind of thing that the council should be prioritising instead of planning to close it."

Amanda Taylor, aged 22, has three children, aged 10 months, one year and five. She is a regular user of the centre.

She said: "I use the centre for everything. If you need someone to talk to or take the kids out – they are always there. After moving here from Coventry, I was shy. But they made me come out more and now I have many friends.

"If they closed this one, the next nearest is Lye – but I don't drive and the bus fare would be costly.

"I really hope they keep this centre open."

More than 15,000 children have access to the centres, based in clusters in five areas around the borough including Dudley, Brierley Hill, Stourbridge and Halesowen.

In total, 285 people work at the centres.

Children's services chief Councillor Tim Crumpton said the proposals to close the centres were not 'set in stone'. He said they had been drawn up because the authority was facing unprecedented cuts in funding.

Government funding comes to the council in the form of a Revenue Support Grant.

The council's predicted grant income was calculated in September and the budgets amended to show a £32m shortfall after three years.

Councillor Crumpton is visiting staff at all of the centres to discuss the proposals. The council consultation runs until January 3 next year.