‘UNACCEPTABLE’ PLANS TO CLOSE MUSWELL HILL AFTER SCHOOL CLUB

29.10.02

A Lib Dem councillor has intervened in an attempt by Haringey Council to close a vital after school club for kids in Muswell Hill. The move follows protests by a Muswell Hill parent, who wrote to Ms Featherstone saying, “This is one of the rare Haringey services that is really valued by all who receive it.”

Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem councillor for Muswell Hill, says attempts by Haringey’s Labour-run council to close the Grove After School Club in Muswell Hill are “quite unacceptable” and the council should act now to eliminate the staff shortages which it say will result in the closure of the facility in January. Children from Muswell Hill Primary School and other local schools use the popular club.

Haringey Council has just notified parents that the club will be closed from 20th December until 27th January due to “shortage of staff”.

Lynne Featherstone says that the council plans for the long closure fly in the face of government policy to remove barriers to work – particularly for women.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Closing this centre for such a long period would be a real blow to local parents, who rely on it to provide vital daytime child care. Clearly, the council needs to move swiftly to provide staff cover for this period. With all this advance warning about possible staff shortages, the council has plenty of time to put in place arrangements to deal with the problem.”

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