Newcastle creche falls victim to cost cutting

Newcastle creche falls victim to cost cutting

29 May 2013

A SUMMER creche scheme for young children in Newcastle has fallen victim to Down Council cost-cutting.

The local authority trimmed a number of budgets across a range of departments in February to keep this year’s district rates rise as low as possible.

But it’s only now emerged that the creche scheme at the Newcastle Centre, which provided morning and afternoon sessions during July and August, has been axed.

A number of concerned parents have contacted councillor Patrick Clarke who was hoping to raise the issue at last night’s meeting of the local authority.

He said parents who use the creche facility register for places for their children during May and June. Councillor Clarke said they only discovered last week that the creche has been axed.

“It’s my understanding that the summer creche was axed as part of Down Council’s bid to keep this year’s rates rise as low as possible. However, the decision was not communicated to parents who are only finding out about it now,” he said.

“Parents who used this particular service are upset it has been withdrawn and that they were not told sooner. With the summer holidays just around the corner, they are now left with little time to make alternative arrangements for their children.”

Councillor Clarke confirmed he has raised his concern with senior council officials who have indicated that there is no money available to fund the reinstatement of the creche.

The Newcastle councillor was hoping to secure support from his colleagues for a call to see if funding can be identified to ensure the summer creche is not axed at last night’s council meeting.

A Down Council spokeswoman said the Newcastle Centre summer creche issue has not been discussed at a council meeting and the organisation is not in a position to comment.