PARENTS have won their fight to save nursery subsidies – for now.

Calderdale Council is part-way through a public consultation which could have meant the end of a council subsidy at six nurseries.

It may have left some parents struggling to afford the full cost of nursery care.

Now the Calderdale Labour Party, the ruling party in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, say they won’t support withdrawing subsidies from children’s day care centres including the Wellholme Park nursery in Brighouse, Field Lane in Rastrick and in Elland.

Clr Megan Swift, Cabinet member for children’s services, told the Examiner she felt uncomfortable with the proposals and said a working party of councillors, council staff, parents and professionals would be formed to look at ways to save funds.

“Part of the problem has been that parents are telling us they’ll experiences difficulties if the subsidy is withdrawn and that’s something that was very uncomfortable for me,” Clr Swift said.

“That’s why we think the council should take back the present proposals and have a longer look at how we can find a better way forward.”

There will need to be further discussions to tackle the council’s reduction in Government funding through cuts to the Early Intervention and Revenue Support grants.

Clr Swift added: “Frankly, it doesn’t make sense to risk the closure of these day care centres, many of which were purpose built or adapted only a few years ago, without taking a bit more time to look at every possible way of continuing to make use of them.

“This does not mean that there will not be further discussions and possible changes to the way day care is provided.”

The move was welcomed by the Conservative’s Clr Scott Benton who said: “I speak as a Brighouse ward councillor who has seen what the parents and children’s centres have done to fight this and I’m pleased the Labour Party has done a U-turn. It is long overdue.

“The parents in Brighouse did exactly the right thing, they got together, presented their case and organised petitions and asked questions. I hope they will be included in any further talks.

“I understand the council’s financial position and I know money has to be saved – if we can get a working party together which includes parents and nursery workers we can move forward and identify savings and protect the care nurseries give.”

Clr Ashley Evans, a Liberal Democrat councillor and Cabinet member for education and life long learning, said: “The whole process was based on detailed analysis presented by council officers and we needed more information.

“Clearly the Cabinet will need to look in detail at all the proposals put to us by officers before we go and set hares running.

“The Labour group got their teeth into in unnecessarily early to be frank.”