Hopes that users of a baby and toddler service in Spennymoor might receive an extension to the end of January deadline for moving out of the main hall at Spennymoor Leisure Centre appear to have been dashed after Durham County Council officers insisted the last session will take place on Friday 31 January.
The popular and long-established Toddle Time has been a twice-weekly fixture at the centre for over thirty years and service users are battling to prevent its closure.
Parents and guardians have claimed that the service will disappear completely if it is forced to move to a soft play area in the newly revamped leisure centre. They say the new area is not fit for purpose for the age groups the service caters for.
Unsettling
However, Alison Clark, head of culture, sport and tourism at Durham County Council, insisted that the new facility has been welcomed: “We’ve received a positive response to Spennymoor Leisure Centre’s new play zone since it opened earlier this month.
“It’s been wonderful to see so many families coming together to enjoy the new facilities, which include a dedicated area for children under four that can be accessed seven days per week.”
“We have worked hard to create an interactive and sociable space that promotes the development of children aged nought to 12, while also providing the best value to money to taxpayers by avoiding duplication with other services on site.
“We know change can be unsettling and so we have continued to support existing Toddler Time sessions alongside the new provision this month to help with the transition.
“We hope our Toddler Time customers will continue to meet in our new Play Zone after this or, if they prefer, take advantage of the many other early years activities on offer at the leisure centre and across the wider community.”
Petition
A petition submitted several weeks ago and containing over 450 names was rejected by Durham County Council officials.
“The only submission we have received falls outside the scope of the petitions scheme as it does not contain any signatures,” said a spokesperson. “This means that it is not a valid petition and cannot be presented to full council.
“However, our culture and sport team will be responding to the petitioner’s concerns directly.”
Meanwhile, parents have rallied to create a new document which Spennymoor News understands was sent by recorded delivery to County Hall for consideration.
Compromise
A suggestion was also proposed that if the main hall is required on a more regular basis, a permanent move to the smaller north stage hall for Toddle Time would be an acceptable compromise to its users. However, this has also been rejected.
“This isn’t an option as this space is used for other activities,” said the spokesperson. “Also, the new Play Zone contains a dedicated area for children aged 0 to four.
“Sessions for babies and toddlers are also available at our partner gymnastic centre (know locally as the pink gym), which is located at the leisure centre and contains a fantastic range of early years equipment and space to play.
“Our Toddler Time sessions were duplicating this provision at a significant cost to the public purse, and the gymnastic centre is able to meet the demand.”
Response
One parent, Peter Taylor emailed Spennymoor News to say: “I have heard management have stated that parents are happy with the new arrangements, but this is definitely untrue as a petition of 500 plus has been raised to complain.
“They have quoted costs which do not appear to be correct and also encouraged use of the pink gym which, though good, is far more expensive.”
The spokesperson confirmed the quoted annual cost of £15,100 to run the service was accurate and “has been calculated based on salaries only.”
A typical user, Caroline Thomas, has written a heartfelt plea to officials to save the service (see letters), saying “I cannot stress the heartache that the toddler time regulars are feeling.”
Another, Carilyn Bright, is a parent and registered childminder. In her assessment, “there is a section for younger children but not toddlers, who need space to be able to free play.
“Physical development is a huge step in young children’s lives and the soft play is not safe for this purpose.”
The spokesperson added: “The decision to end Toddler Time sessions was based on the fact that we have invested in a better-quality play facility and the sessions duplicate other community play provision on offer at the leisure centre and across the Spennymoor area. A great deal of this is free or low-cost.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
