FEARS have been raised surrounding the future of a much valued children’s centre in Malvern after worried parents were sent mixed messages about its possible closure.
Parents and users of Evergreen Children’s Centre on Worcester Road were given letters last Thursday (July 21) which said the centre was set to close on October 1.
However, the Observer has been told the letter was shortly afterwards retracted for ‘political reasons’ – leaving parents worryingly uncertain about the centre’s future and in search for desperate answers.
Bosses of Action For Children, which manages the centre as well as 200 others across the UK, were locked in crunch talks with Worcestershire County Council today (Tuesday) to try and negotiate a way forward.
It is currently not known whether the meeting had drawn to a successful outcome.
Fuming parents across the county are planning a protest outside the County Hall this coming Friday (July 29).
Though the county council does not own Evergreen, the Observer understands it does provide financial support.
Evergreen provides a valuable resource for parents in Malvern as it runs family support sessions, baby and toddler activities, antenatal sessions, stay and play sessions, breastfeeding support and providing access to employment and training information.
The uncertainty comes just weeks after the county council announced it was to make major savings of around £1.5million to its early years budget – which is what worried parents will be protesting about.
The cuts announcement followed a controversial public consultation – run by the authority – which asked for residents views regarding the current use of its owned children centres.
Hannah Cooper, who runs the Malvern branch of the National Childbirth Trust, said parents have been left confused with what’s going on.
“We went to Evergreen Children Centre’s last Thursday and were given a letter from the management which said it was going to close from October 1,” she said.
“And then about 20 minutes later we were told the letter needed to be retracted for political reasons. So they clearly know more than we do.
“Because Evergreen is not owned by the county council we’ve been trying to push them (the council) to see what is happening to it and we haven’t managed to get anywhere with it at all.
“The council has given us no indication whatsoever about what they are going to do with it.”
A statement from the county council said it had ‘no intention’ of closing the centre down but its commitment indicated to be just for at least another year.
Marc Bayliss, responsible for Children and Families, said: “It is not our intention to close Evergreen Children’s Centre.
“It is a privately-owned building leased directly to Action for Children who we are working closely with to secure its future until the lease for the building comes to its natural end in 2017.”
Hannah added the potential loss of the centre would be a big setback for Malvern families.
She said: “I think it would be a massive blow for Malvern if it was to close because I’ve heard they would transfer all their services to the town’s Sunshine Children’s Centre. Parents like Evergreen because it is in a good location and they can walk to it.
“Should that transfer happen it’s going to put a lot of pressure on one children’s centre covering the whole of Malvern.
“The whole process has been disappointing and very frustrating. For anyone currently pregnant this uncertainty is not helpful because they won’t know what help is out there for them.”
Her thoughts were echoed by the chairman of the West Worcestershire Labour Party, Daniel Walton, who said he feared for the centre’s future – calling it an ‘absolute travesty’ if it closed down.
“Losing Evergreen would be a massive blow for Malvern as a town,” he said.
“It would be an absolute travesty as it would mean families would possibly have to move outside Malvern to use services which would be attrocious. And I would say there are many families who are in a position where they can’t do that.
“It’s a real mess that needs sorting.”
Hannah is organising the protest on Friday, which starts at 10.30am. And It is expected that dozens of parents will attend to make their feelings heard.
“There is going to be parents from the whole of Worcestershire coming to this protest and I’m urging any parents worried about the future to voice their concerns on Friday,” Hannah added.
“Many parents are worried right now and we need to make our feelings heard. We want answers right now.”
