A row has broken out in the borough after Ealing Labour councillors voted down a Liberal Democrat proposal last month to save children’s centres from closure.
Labour-run Ealing Council is currently undertaking a borough consultation on improving early help services. Locals using the services fear that this could see around half of existing centres across the borough being closed.
In its consultation, which is open until 27 April 2025, the council said: “Ealing has 25 children’s centres, more than boroughs like Barnet or Croydon, but not all families who could benefit are using them. One idea being explored is whether fewer, more accessible centres with longer hours and expanded services could reach more families.”
It added: “The council is considering whether to focus services in 12 key children centres, selected based on their accessibility, how much they’re being used and the size and suitability of the buildings.
While in Southall, there are concerns that up to 75% of current children’s centres will be shut including Greenfields, Dormer’s Wells and Windmill Park. These facilities provide a range of services to families including health visitor support, midwifery, childcare and mental health services.
At a council meeting last month, the Liberal Democrats tabled a budget amendment to keep centres open which was rejected by Labour and Conservative councillors voting against it.
In a statement, Councillor Jonathan Oxley, responsible for the Lib Dem children’s portfolio, said: “Ealing Labour say that want to make it easier for parents to access support for their kids but they’re planning to do the opposite by centralising services at fewer centres. They simply do not understand the challenges parents face when travelling with babies and toddlers and all the equipment – buggies, blankets, nappies, etc – that go with them. We can all see that Labour’s plan to close our children centres is a shameless cost cutting exercise.”
He added: “Liberal Democrats say that parents using Southall’s children centres often lead challenging lives, balancing long working hours and cost of living pressures, with the complex needs of their kids. English is often not their first or even second language and their voice is seldom heard. The Liberal Democrats are standing with them by opposing these closures, while Labour’s Southall councillors vote to close them down.”
Angela Fonso, a parent and Safer Play, Better Day campaign member wrote last month of her concerns over Ealing Council’s proposals to close children’s centres in Southall and across the borough.
She said: “I am reeling from Ealing Council’s proposal to close thirteen children’s centres including Greenfields, Dormer’s Wells and Windmill Park in Southall, an area with significant indicators of multiple deprivation.
She added: “Closing Greenfields Children’s Centre is like taking a sledgehammer to destroy the progress made in early intervention in Southall Green Ward. The relocation of services to Havelock Children’s Centre will reduce services at this centre as it won’t be possible to accommodate all of the services offered by both children’s centres.”
Ealing Council has said the proposals are still under consultation, and that all responses will be thoroughly reviewed before a final decision is made.
Writing on its website, the council said: “Once the consultation closes, the council will review all the responses and prepare a report for cabinet members, who will make the final decision on how children’s centre services are reorganised in the future. Any changes are likely to be implemented later this year.”
