Portobello Baths - creche closure

[slvrpe]

Just seen this article on the BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/s ... 277633.stm

Edinburgh Lesiure are to close six creches - Portobello being one of them, that's really not good news for those of us with small children who use this facility... : (

[slvrpe]

Maureen Child has asked for anyone who uses the creche at Portobello to get in touch with her at:

Maureen.Child@edinburgh.gov.uk

See also article in today's Evening News:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinb ... 3849809.jp

[Franck]

Parents not using the creche will also not use the classes,the cafe and any other revenue stream the council may have at any of the proposed sites.It's a very short term view they're taking imo.

And what about promoting a healthy life-style? Not if you're a parent who has no alternative options for childcare.

[Maria]

From today's EN :

Exercise at a halt thanks to crèche crash

[Bob Jefferson]

More on this:

From the BBC on 13/3:

Mothers' anger over creche cuts


From today's EN Letters Page:

HERE'S been a fair bit of talk about the council's magic trick in pulling a budget out of its hat that was better than had been feared.

However, now we get the real story as the axe falls on more vital services around the city.

News that six Edinburgh Leisure crèches are to close will be a hammer blow to many parents with young families, many of whom are probably already hard pressed by the council's reduction in funding for schools and family centred facilities.

The fact that one of these crèches is in Portobello's swim centre is particularly galling as parents continue to wait for news about much-needed funding for the two local primary schools and Portobello High School.

Unfortunately closing the crèche, which is a well used facility, run by a highly regarded team, is the thin end of the wedge. If parents are unable to use the swimming pool, gym and aerobic classes during the week because of the absence of the crèche, then it is only a matter of time before the council calls time on the swim centre as the level of use falls.

Closing crèche facilities in Edinburgh's leisure centres is not in anyone's interests.

Leon Thompson, Argyle Crescent, Portobello

I understand that following the deputation last week, the Council has asked Edinburgh Leisure to look again at the situation. One outcome may be that the crèches in Portobello remain open and the one at the Commonwealth Pool, scheduled to close for refurbishment next year in any case, closes instead. Savings could also be found by bringing forward the closure of Leith Waterworld.

[Bob Jefferson]

STV video report

I'm told that the subsidy level for Portobello is around £5 and nowhere near the average £13 that Steve Cardownie is claiming.

[Porty]

Unless I'm mistaken- when the creche started about 21 or 22 Years ago it was a small business initiative from a couple of young mums. (Marilyn and Barbara). I think the council let them use the space that overlooked the big pool, it was probably free of charge. The ladies made a bit of money in a really nice way and we parents loved it. There was no gym but the creche was still well used.

I suspect that this arrangement stopped around the time of the refurb, that's when the refreshment room disappeared too. I know that regulations and compliance is much stricter these days and that does cost money but maybe such an arrangement would still work? It is certainly better than nothing.

[Bob Jefferson]

Good news from today's EN:

Parent power saves leisure centre crèches from closure

[Bob Jefferson]

From today's EN:

Nationalists need a crèche course in consistent views

[Taloulah]

I believe Edinburgh Leisure is considering measures to counteract next year's reduction in income from the Council. Yet again, the very busy Portobello Swim Centre creche appears to be one of the likely targets for cuts.

[Maria]

Not just Porty créche by the sounds of it http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edi ... 376574.stm

[seashell]

I was horrified to read the subsidy is £12 per session. that is a serious amount of money. Given the current economic climate - is it really surprising the creche facilities cannot be sustained??

[Bob Jefferson]

How much it costs to subsidise must depend on how many people are using the service. Without a leisure card the charge is currently £4 an hour but it can be as low as £2 depending on which card/concession you are using. The overall subsidy may be £12 per session but will vary between the four centres. Some are bound to be busier than others. It would be interesting to know what the subsidy level is for Portobello.

Rather than closing the creches, perhaps they should be looking at raising the price and doing a better job of marketing the service?

[wangi]

Rather than closing the creches, perhaps they should be looking at raising the price and doing a better job of marketing the service?

Well raising prices is a sure fire way of reducing demand...

[Bob Jefferson]

Better to have a facility that is 20% more expensive than no facility at all though, which is what looks like happening.

[cuth]

The "£12 per session" figure is pretty meaningless unless you can put it in context. Presumably all visits to the pool are subsidised as Edinburgh Leisure doesn't make a profit. For example, if every visit to Portobello pool is subsidised by £11, then the crèche visit doesn't seem too bad. If the figure is only a few pence then the argument might be different.

Last time the crèche was threatened, I asked Edinburgh Leisure for this information. They sent me a load of information, but none of it was really relevant. I suspect they don't really know.