Nursery World - Hillingdon Council withdraws decision to close its nurseries

Following a legal challenge by parents, Hillingdon Council has committed to consulting with residents about the future of its three remaining nurseries, which were due to shut next month.

Hillingdon parents campaigning against the council's decision to close its three nurseries PHOTO Watkins and Gunn

In August, the council announced it was to close all three of its early years centres by the end of the year, leaving 102 children without nursery places.

Hillingdon Council blamed declining birth rates and taxpayer costs of over £532,000 a year for the decision to shut Uxbridge Early Years Centre, Nestles Avenue Early Years Centre, and South Ruislip Early Years Centre. It said it would use ‘special urgency’ powers to close the three sites, which opposition councillors said allowed the scrutiny process to be avoided.

Impacted parents, many of whom said they were unable to find alternative affordable and accessible childcare, campaigned against the closures, with the support of Unison the union, and instructed lawyers to challenge the council’s decision.

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