PLANS to shut five nurseries have been put on hold amid a battle over funding cuts.

Salford Council announced earlier this month that Little Hulton Day Nursery and four others could be shut down due to local authority savings that city mayor Paul Dennett said are necessary due to continuing government austerity policies.

However, Mr Dennett has now paused a consultation on the libraries’ future, following an outcry from parents and staff.

Following a public meeting organised by Unison, Mr Dennett said that the pause will allow the council, trade unions, local MPs and parents and staff to lobby the government for funding to keep the nurseries open and under local authority control.

If the nurseries were to shut, hundreds of children would need to be placed elsewhere.

Mr Dennett said: “I have written to the government to raise the funding issues and the severe impact on services which are facing unprecedented demands on the residents of our city. I have asked for them to review this funding shortfall.”

Cllr Lisa Stone, Salford’s lead member for children’s and young people’s services, said: “I know this is a difficult time for parents and staff but it’s important that we support the passion they have shown for the nurseries and use that to convince the government to think again and provide the funding we need to keep this excellent service open.”

The campaign will be launched at full Salford Council on Wednesday, when the council confirms its budget for next year.

Salford is expected to follow Bolton Council in approving a council tax rise of 4.99 per cent.

Salford, one of a few councils in Greater Manchester which still provide local authority run nurseries, says it can no longer afford to subsidise the nurseries after the government changed the rules on the use of the Dedicated Schools grant.

A change.org petition to save the nurseries already has more than 5,000 signatures.

Winton Day Nursery, Barton Moss Day Nursery, Belvedere Day Nursery and Higher Broughton Day Nursery have also been earmarked for closure.