| |
Charity is ‘being crippled by rent’
Childcare provider is being held back by ‘extortionate’ charges,
says MP
A LEADING charity set up to provide affordable nursery places across Westminster is being held back by “extortionate rents”, claims Karen Buck MP.
The Westminster Children’s Society is being charged £68,000 a year to run its Carlton Hill nursery in St John’s Wood.
High rent means the 104-year-old charity is being forced to raise fees, pricing the disadvantaged out of the market.
“I almost fell off my chair when they told me about the rent,” said the Labour MP Kensington North and Regent’s Park. “I was expecting it to be around £6,000.”
Unlike other London boroughs, the numbers of families signing up for childcare in Westminster is declining and Ms Buck believes high rents are to blame.
Westminster was last year unmasked as the worst London borough for increasing take up in its nurseries and has been scolded by the London Development Agency failing to address a critical shortage in affordable childcare.
“This is a critical reason why take-up in Westminster is so low. The consequence is that WCS have to charge more. This means that the people they were set up to help cannot afford the places and that they end up with unfilled places.”
The council insists it is tackling the problem by “promoting affordable childcare across our children’s centres”.
Cllr Sarah Richardson, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Westminster Children’s Society runs the Carlton Hill nursery as an independent business.
“Despite this, the council has already negotiated a discounted rent for its first two years and has contributed £300,000 to revamp and modernise the building.
“Should the nursery require further help, it may apply for extra funding from the council’s voluntary sector grant.” |
 |
|
| |
| |
