New lease deal saves Lancaster children's centre

Rising Stars Nursery at Firbank Children’s Centre in Firbank Road will stay open when Lancashire County Council pulls its staff out of the building at the end of March 2017.

Last month, city councillor Abi Mills organised a meeting between the nursery, Ridge Primary School, local midwives, Bulk Ward city councillors, Lancashire County Council’s district property officer and Lancaster City Council chief executive Susan Parsonage.

It is understood the meeting helped to secure a new lease.

Coun Mills said: “It is great to finally have it confirmed that county has granted the nursery a three-year lease.

“It would have been devastating for local parents to have lost their highly-valued nursery as well as the children’s centre.”

Nursery owner Philippa Perks said: “We’re delighted that the lease has been extended. The nursery has developed considerably over the last five years and this is attributable to the hard work and dedication of the staff team. It’s great that we’ll be able to continue to work in partnership with Ridge Primary School and to support the local community.”

Coun Caroline Jackson added: “We are now hoping that the rest of the Firbank building can be used for the kind of ‘complementary services which county is going to stop providing through the children’s centre, keeping current midwifery services and health visitor clinics on-site, and developing well-being provision for all ages.”

The county council decided to close Firbank as part of its buildings and property review.