Parents hold protest against planned closure of nursery in Brighton

Bright Start Nursery is slated for closure in Brighton and Hove City Council’s draft budget for 2023-24.

Angry parents presented a petition to the full council at Hove Town Hall and sent a deputation to address councillors.

More than 1,460 people signed the petition calling on the council not to close the nursery at the Old Slipper Baths, in Barrack Yard, North Road, Brighton.

The proposal would save £104,000, according to a report to the policy and resources committee.

It said the nursery building, which is close to the Prince Regent swimming pool, requires “significant” work and there are 42 other nurseries within two miles.

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Bright Start has places for 50 children from three months to four years old and employs 15 staff.

Suda Perera, who presented the petition, said the level of support spoke to the importance of the nursery to parents.

She said: “We strongly feel that the loss of Bright Start will do irreparable damage to the city – and solutions can be found to keep it open.

“We understand that you are facing an unprecedented shortfall in funding from the central government.

“We know that nobody wants to cut services and it’s not what you were elected to do. And we support your Give It Back campaign asking the government to return funding to the city council.

“However, we also feel more could be done to fight for our services. Cutting services before you’ve really exhausted campaigning to give it back sends a signal that you don’t think it’s going to work.”

Mother-of-two Anneke Finer led a deputation and said closing the nursery would be “absolutely devastating” for the community of families.

She said: “Bright Start caters to more of the city’s most vulnerable people. And why is that? That is because our staff have specialist knowledge and training, dealing with vulnerable children, complex disabilities and medical educational needs.”

Green councillor Hannah Allbrooke spoke at the meeting

Green councillor Hannah Allbrooke, who chairs the children, young people and skills committee, said Bright Start was an “incredibly valuable service”.

She said: “I know that Bright Start is amazing and fantastic and supportive. I know that it provides the support that families need. And I know this decision is very disappointing. Please believe me when I tell you that I really am sorry.

“I know that because I truly believe in the value of council-run, public services. They change communities and I personally care so much about our city’s children, young people and their wellbeing.

“The truth is I don’t want to do this. I would be confident enough to say no councillor wants to do this.”

Cllr Allbrooke said the council had an £18 million budget gap that it was required to balance in 2023-24 and had to make savings which would result in the loss of a “valuable public service”.

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Labour councillor Jackie O’Quinn asked for a report to the next meeting of the children, young people and skills committee, detailing the reasons for closing the nursery and providing alternative options.

She said: “I feel this has been done very quickly and has not gone to (the committee) – and we really need to scrutinise this decision.

“I’m not saying it won’t go forward. We need to have a look at why the building costs are so high. There are historic problems with the building. Obviously, there are some difficulties. We want to look at that.”

She encouraged Bright Start parents to attend the committee meeting on January 9 and ask more questions.