Basildon: Playtime's over at Parklands

Parents and staff at Parklands Nursery, just behind Gloucester Park swimming pool, were in tears at a farewell party.

One staff member, said: "Even the children said 'this isn't a happy party, it's a sad one', because they saw their mums crying."

Each family was given a framed photo of staff and a poem saying how they will miss the children.

The nursery is closing as part of the £1.7 million budget cuts being made by Basildon Council, who say the centre is losing £55,000 a year.

Parents of the 38 children have had to make alternative arrangements and some staff have had to find new jobs.

Staff were given the opportunity by Basildon Council to come up with a business plan, but did not feel in a position to run the nursery independently.

Mother Julie Bird, is a full-time telephone sales manager but has decided to cut her hours down to three days a week.

Her 18-month-old daughter, Danielle, will go to the crche at the new David Lloyd leisure centre on the Festival Leisure Park, which has taken on two Parklands staff.

Julie, whose daughter has attended Parklands since she was 12 weeks old, said: "I'm devastated.

"I know it's just a nursery but Danielle's been there for a while now and has got so used to the staff."

Julie's assistant, Maxine Coulson, 35, of St James Avenue East, Stanford-le-Hope, is also having to find a new nursery for her two-year-old daughter, Megan.

She said: "It's a very emotional time and I think it's wrong to close a place like Parklands where children were so well cared for."

A nursery staff member said: "We'd like to thank everyone for all their support during this traumatic time.

"Our hands are tied and this shouldn't be closing. It's a part of the education process."

Locking up for the last time - nursery workers Heather Mathews and Gill Jackson

Picture: NICK ANSELL

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