Local Labour Party councillors and prospective council candidates have launched a petition against the possible closure of Sure Start Centres in Morecambe.
The campaign comes as the Government and Lancashire County Council, both Tory-led, are making cuts to services across the North-West with threats that Sure Start Centres may lose funding.
The council at County Hall are still yet to announce where the cuts will hit. However, the local Labour team has decided to get as much support for Sure Start Children’s Centres as possible in an attempt to stop any closures.
Ian Pattison, prospective Labour candidate for Harbour Ward, launched the campaign with the support of Councillors Janice Hanson and Ron Sands, along with Margaret Pattison, Vikki Price and David Whitaker, who are both also prospective Labour candidates in the City Council elections.
“Over 3,500 Sure Start and Children’s Centres were opened by the previous Labour Government across the UK,” notes Mr Pattison, “services that are vitally needed in towns such as Morecambe.
“This Tory-led Government is ruthlessly, carelessly and without thought removing essential services from our town,” he continues, “and it will be a tragedy if our Sure Start Centres are hit.
“Removing this funding will significantly affect the availability of good quality childcare in the least well-off areas, reducing the ability of parents, including single parents, to find employment.”
The Labour team added: “We will continue to petition and fight to save these much-needed services for the people of Morecambe.”