The leader of Knowsley Council has condemned the “disgraceful” decision to suddenly close a Huyton nursery, leaving hundreds of children and dozens of staff in limbo.
Speaking at a meeting of the borough’s full council on Wednesday, Cllr Graham Morgan said the council only found out about the closure when contacted by parents after receiving an email from the owner of Orchard day nursery.
Devastated families had contacted the ECHO over the weekend in shock at the closure of the large nursery, which looked after 200 children in the borough and employed 48 members of staff, most of whom had been involved in a dispute over pay and conditions as members of UNISON.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting Olivia Pratt-Korbel gives evidence
Reading out the email from the owner, which blamed the closure on a breakdown of industrial relations between the nursery and striking staff, Cllr Morgan said: “It was an absolutely disgraceful decision.”
He said the owner, Clive Barratt, “has been refusing to make contact with anyone” and as a result of the decision families had been “left without essential childcare.”
He added: “This was also childcare that they paid for in advance. The families also face the challenge of finding the deposit and fees of new childcare providers at short notice”, saying the decision is “unacceptable.”
Cllr Morgan said the council had not been involved in the ongoing industrial dispute but after being made aware of the closure had been asked to help.
He said: “We’ve made a number of efforts to contact the owner and we have written to him to express our disappointment at the company's closure and request an urgent meeting so we can work on behalf of the families to secure a quick refund of their fees and access to the building to retrieve their belongings.”
He said the council had also advised families affected by the closure and worked to increase the number of childcare places, signposting families to the vacancies.
Cllr Morgan said 142 of the 200 children had secured alternative childcare, describing this as “excellent progress” in a short time.
He said he was reaching out to other families yet to find childcare and help with finding provision.
Cllr Morgan said that recognise the challenges faced by many families, particularly at risk of financial hardship in finding a new deposit and fees in advance, the council “will underwrite one month’s fees” for all families experiencing financial hardship as a result of the closure with the support to be paid directly to childcare providers.
The council has also asked Knowsley’s chamber of commerce to contact business with requests for flexibility for families affected by the closure.
He said the council had also “taken action to support the workforce” whose jobs have been impacted by the closure.
Cllr Morgan said: “I hope you can see from what I’ve said that this council takes seriously its responsibility to children and families.”
Get the top stories straight to your inbox by signing up to our what's on newsletter
READ NEXT
Thomas Cashman tells jury if you want to sell drugs you 'can't let people take the p***'
Council set to remove tent where 'Spiderman' currently lives
EncroChat drug runner 'Lemonlager' caught after taking selfies
Mango shoppers desperate to buy 'stunning' midi dress they 'need'
