LITTLE Hulton Children’s Centre will not close — although its outstanding nursery provision is earmarked to be axed.

Council bosses have reassured residents that other services provided by children's centres will continue, as a proposal to shut all five of its local authority run nurseries is put out for consultation.

Cllr Lisa Stone, lead member for children’s services at Salford City Council, said: “We have very reluctantly put forward a proposal to review the future of our five excellent local authority run day nurseries, after facing a potential hole in the budget of £1.75 million. This situation is a direct result of government changes, which reduce the use of Dedicated Schools Grant for funding council services.

“The nurseries cost £3 million to run, but we only receive £1.5 million in income from charges. The government changes mean we can no longer afford to subsidise the running costs of the five nurseries in the city by £1.5 million.”

She added: “All five nurseries are classed as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and are run by passionate, committed and dedicated workers.

“We are devastated to be forced into a position of having to consider closure due to yet more Government changes to local authority budgets. We are committed to supporting anyone who has alternative, affordable proposals to keep the nurseries open.”