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Kids’ protest: A clear message for City Hall yesterday (Thursday) |
KIDS IN PLEA FOR PAY
Parents and children vow to fight closure of project in park
PARENTS up in arms about the closure of a play group say their children will be locked up like “battery chickens” in the new building.
More than 30 parents and children demonstrated outside Westminster City Hall yesterday (Thursday), after the decision to close the Maida Vale Play Project in Paddington Recreation Ground was rubber-stamped this week.
Campaigners say that Essendine Primary School – where up to 40 five to 12-year-olds who use the centre will be moved to join another after-school club – has no room for the extra children.
They are also calling on the council to come clean on the fate of play centre staff, who parents say are like “family”.
The play group will close its doors to children at the start of the new school year to make way for a new sports centre. It will continue to operate from the recreation ground during school holidays, in the pavilion. The council says the play group was underused and that the move will save them £75,000 a year.
Jodi Monaghan, whose son Callum attends the group, said: “We’re worried there won’t be space for all the children. I’ve seen the room at Essendine and there could be up to 80 kids in there. It’s going to be like a battery chicken farm. Guidelines say there should be a quiet area and homework area. I don’t see how it will work.”
Since parents learned of the proposed closure, the consultation has been mired by accusations of foul play. Parents have vowed to fight on.
Father-of-two Sean Cotter, who is leading the campaign, said the council has “flip-flopped” from the start. He said: “They’ve never given us a straight answer as to why we needed to close. First it was money, then it was government guidelines. They just flip-flop. The whole thing has been very traumatic for the children.”
Cabinet member for children’s services Councillor Sarah Richardson, said: “Westminster is aware of the strength of feeling around the Maida Vale Play Project. For some time it has been significantly underused by local parents and the council has decided that during term time the current play service will move to nearby Essendine School.
“It boasts a new purpose-built facility and lots of space for children to play.” |
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