Essex: Where are the children going to go?

5.10.48pm GMT Wed 1st Nov 2006

Tory cost cutting proposals put special needs children out of their premises.

Conservative county council proposals to sell off Greyfriars College in Colchester has resulted in a nursery group for children with special needs being evicted. Stepping Stones currently operates from the Wilson Marriage Centre, but the closure of Greyfriars will mean that all classes will transfer from there to Wilson Marriage, leaving no room for the children.

Cllr Theresa Higgins, Liberal Democrats spokesman for community services and local councillor, said: "Stepping Stones is a unique nursery offering specialised care for children with special needs, behavioural problems and terminal illnesses. The local community has spent a lot of money on providing the facilities required for the varied conditions of these children and it is not possible to just pick the children up and jump them just anywhere else. I urge the Conservatives to rethink this policy and allow the children to stay where they are.

"Stepping Stones has been given an eviction notice from the county council and it will no longer be able to rent rooms at the Wilson Marriage Centre, its home for the last 16 years. This is news to me as there was no mention made of it during the briefing I had from the Conservative cabinet member, despite the fact that I am the local councillor."

ENDS