Appeal to save centre (From Barry And District News)

Appeal to save centre

THE FIGHT to save Gibbonsdown Children's Centre has shifted up a gear after a petition was launched to put pressure on the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

In a last ditch attempt to stop the local authority slashing the £53,000 budget to the centre, Labour councillor Rob Curtis has helped set up the appeal.

He told the News: "The forms are here to be signed by anyone who cares about the centre. We want to show the strength of feeling in support of this facility, and to force the council to really consider this damaging decision before going ahead with it. If they cut their financial support, the centre will have to close and that will only add to the problems of social deprivation in this area.

"It seems so short-sighted to me that in the very week Chancellor Gordon Brown pledged to open 1,000 children's centres around the UK, the Vale of Glamorgan are doing their best to close one of ours. Mr Brown sees these facilities as a way of tackling child poverty. It seems the Vale council does not agree."

The Salvation Army lent their support last weekend by holding a fayre to raise funds for the centre. It was held in the Holm View Leisure Centre and raised £200.

But the future of Gibbonsdown Children's Centre relies on the council's support. Centre manager Gill Bloom added: "If the council is seen to lose faith in us, our other fund-providers will not see us as a viable investment and could withdraw their funding. We would have to close. But the support we've had over the last few weeks has been fantastic.

Everyone has been as shocked as we have, and it makes us feel as though we're not alone."

The petitions are available from the Gibbonsdown Children's Centre or from Cllr Rob Curtis on 01446 736287.