A Conservative District Councillor and Candidate for next year’s County Council elections in Derbyshire has slammed the Labour authority over plans to close the sure start children’s centre at the Gladys Buxton Community Education Centre on Oakhill Road in Dronfield.
A consultation on the proposals to close 32 children’s centres across the county, including in Dronfield, Eckington and Killamarsh, closes today.
Local campaigner and District Councillor, Alex Dale, who is standing to be County Councillor for Dronfield East & Unstone Division at next year’s local elections, has criticised the authority for failing to think innovatively about how these community assets can be maintained whilst still making savings.
Councillor Dale, who represents Coal Aston on the Town and District Councils, said: “We all know that significant savings need to be made, but Labour seem to care more about bashing the Government than finding solutions to these problems. Countless families across Dronfield stand to lose out on a vital service due to an inability to think outside of the box at County Hall.
“Instead of wasting time bemoaning Government cuts, I want to see the County Council actively engaging with partners in the voluntary and private sectors to see how these centres can be kept open. This is an opportunity to widen the scope and integrate different provisions so that we have truly universal family services.”
Affected families are encouraged to contact Councillor Dale directly at [email protected].