AFTER months of concern the fears of parents and carers whose children attend two nurseries in Tilbury have been realised with an announcement today (Wednesday, 18 May) that they are to close. 

Critics of the council have already poured scorn on the Conservative-run authority's claim that it has done everything it can to keep the Little Pirates and Neptunes nurseries, which it runs, open. 

And it is feared that this is the first of an onslaught of cost-cutting measures as the cash-strapped council seeks to balance its books. 

In an announcement this morning the council said: "Despite its best efforts in searching for an alternative provider, Thurrock Council has today had to regretfully announce the upcoming closure of two of its nurseries, Little Pirates and Neptunes, both based in Tilbury.

"The council opened a procurement process in January, in hope of attracting an existing nursery provider keen to offer continuity of service and peace of mind for local parents. 

"However, despite a long search and a fair open market process, no provider was found to take on the contracts from September this year.

"The nurseries will close on Friday 15 July, when the funding for early education and childcare places ends for the summer term."

The news today is in contrast to an upbeat view delivered by Children's Services portfolio holder Cllr Barry Johnson in January.

Then he said: "This is an exciting opportunity for a new provider to take over the two council run nurseries in Tilbury and expand their current offer ensuring continuity of service to the community.

"The procurement process for tender submissions will open on Monday, 24 January through to Friday, 4 March 2022 and we are expecting to award the contract in May."

However, today he said: "It is regrettable that we have not been able to find a provider with the expertise and financial standing to secure the future of these nurseries. We can't rely on taxpayers to support the two nurseries financially while others across the borough operate successfully without Council support'

"I know this news will be upsetting for those parents and staff who relied upon both nurseries. I want to thank the staff of both Little Pirates and Neptunes for everything you have done to nurture inquisitive young minds and help both nurseries maintain such high standing in your communities."

The council's statement added: "Staff will be on hand today to speak to parents and carers, and to help find new placements for September. Following this, the Council's Early Years Team and Family Information Service will be contacting parents and carers to help them identify alternative early years education and childcare where they haven't done so already. 

News of the council's plans to close the nurseries was exclusively reported by Thurrock Nub News last September. 

https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/council-launches-consultation-raising-fears-over-future-of-nurseries

In the wake of that story there was an 'overwhelming' response from residents who wanted to keep the nurseries open. 

https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/march-closure-of-children39s-nurseries-is-avoided-after-39overwhelming-response39-from-residents-council-will-seek-new-service-providers

Chair of the Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Sara Muldowney said: "These nurseries are being closed as part of cost cutting measures as the Conservative administration struggle to close a £34.4 million budget gap."

"A consultation with local residents showed how well loved these nurseries are, sometimes with generations of the same family going to them as children."

"The Children's Services Committee were reassured numerous times last year that the council were "cautiously optimitic" that a new provider could be found, with the date of closure being pushed from March until the end of the school year to allow more time."

"With the announcement to close now coming on the heels of the local elections, this now seems like this was just a cynical attempt to push this unpopular decision to the other side of the local elections."

"At the same time as the council was discussing closing these nurseries, we had a report to Children's Services which showed that there are not enough nursery places in Tilbury. When these nurseries close there will be a loss of 33 staff and 126 nursery places which raises the question of how working people will be able to find childcare places."

"This is the just the first of a series of expected cost-cutting measures by the Conservative-run council that will have an adverse effect on the local community."