A NURSERY in one of the most deprived areas of Bolton is set to close ­— just three years after it was saved following a public outcry.

Harvey Nursery, the only Bolton Council run nursery, will close next August leading to the loss of 15 full time posts and the relocation of 50 children.

Cllr Martin Donaghy, Labour’s children’s services spokesperson, led a campaign to keep the nursery open ­— and believes not enough has been done to prove it is a viable and much-needed provision in the area.

Town hall chiefs say that the nursery is too costly to keep open and tabled proposals to shut it in December.

Now following a public consultation the decision to close it was finalised at a recent meeting of the Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.

Cllr Donaghy told The Bolton News: “I am still convinced the nursery was not given the a fighting chance.

“My view is to reconvene the collaborative working group, review the marketing strategy and review the areas that can be improved.

“Everyone deserves a fair crack of the whip, and I feel the nursery has not been given a fair crack of the whip.

“If all this is done and it still does not work then I can look the parents, staff and more importantly the children in the face and say I have done everything in my power.

“I just do not think the nursery has been given a fair chance.”

The nursery caters for babies to pre-school children.

The minutes from the meeting in which the proposals were ratified state: “The closure of Harvey Nursery in response to ongoing budget pressures at the end of the academic year August, 2022.”

Bolton Council has previously said that the nursery is only operating at 44 per cent capacity, and its closure would save £103,886.

And it added the nursery has worked to attract more children and that there is a surplus of childcare places available for all children eligible for early years free entitlement.

The nursery was first earmarked for closure in 2017, and a huge campaign was launched to keep it open ­– with the council agreeing to withdraw the proposal just weeks after.

Harvey Nursery is based in The Harvey Children’s Centre in Shaw Street, Great Lever.

The Harvey Early Years Centre was registered in October 2006 but there had been a nursery there for many years before. When it closes, it will mark the end of an era - when the local authorities used to provide and run a number of early years settings.

Bolton Council has been contacted for a response.