Nursery closure threat averted

May 15 2009 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Friday

FINTRY Nursery has been saved after months of uncertainty over its future.

Stirling Council’s SNP administration decided this week not to go ahead with mothballing proposals which opposition politicians had described as “effective closure”.

Supporters of the 10 families affected said the decision was very welcome and particularly good news for the village.

Councillors had been told by officials that, while technically the nursery was to be considered open, all its 10 pupils were to be sent elsewhere.

Education officials had insisted the move would safeguard the nursery so that it could easily become operational again once there were more pupils and difficulties with recruiting and retaining staff could be overcome.

Critics said the plans were merely closure by another name.

Local councillor Colin O’Brien said: “Coming after their unpopular attempt to close care homes, this latest SNP U-turn, while welcome, shows again how out of touch they are with public opinion as they seek again to protect their own position and that of the children’s services portfolio holder Councillor Graham Lambie.

“Councillor Lambie is also a local member for the Fintry area but until now has supported the effective closure and the transport of nursery-age children to Balfron three days a week with outreach to Fintry for two mornings.

“The change of heart comes a week before the May meeting of Stirling Council, at which the SNP closure plan faced certain defeat at the hands of a Labour/Conservative motion to keep the nursery open.

“I hope Councillor Lambie can also now guarantee full and proper staffing and resources for the nursery and some support for the primary school’s headteacher in order to run this service.”

The SNP administration confirmed that full-time nursery provision is to be safeguarded at Fintry Nursery.

Councillor Lambie said: “Fintry Nursery provides an extremely high quality of nursery education and the SNP administration is determined that this continues.

“Falling numbers over recent years have led to uncertainty over the future of this nursery and the service has engaged in consultation with parents as to the best way to move forward.

“As a result of the review and having considered the feedback from parents, the administration has decided to continue providing nursery classes in Fintry and I hope this reassures parents and ends any uncertainty over the future of this nursery.

“I would like to thank the parents who took part in the consultation and Conservative Councillor Alistair Berrill for his constructive approach to the issue.

“However, it is disappointing that Labour’s Councillor O’Brien has sought to make cheap political points from this issue at the last minute, which has been handled on a cross-party basis until now.”

Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford (SNP) said: “I am aware of the concerns in Fintry community over the future of this nursery and the challenges caused to the council by the low numbers attending in recent times.

“However, I feel that the nursery is important to this community and am pleased at the SNP administration’s commitment to its future. This is the right decision for the people of Fintry.”