Parents '˜shocked and saddened' at news Northampton leisure centre creche is to be closed

Northampton Leisure Trust has announced the creche facility at Danes Camp Leisure Centre, which has been open for more than 25 years, will close on February 26.

The creche, which employs three nursery nurses, is currently open 9am until noon, Monday to Friday.

A leisure trust spokesman said the decision had been taken to close the crèche as it was “no longer financially viable”.

In a letter to customers, Ian Redfern, managing director of the leisure trust, said: “After much deliberation I regret to advise that Northampton Leisure Trust will no longer be providing a rèche facility.

“Over an extended number of years the Crèche business environment has changed dramatically and demand has significantly decreased to a point where it is not viable to maintain the operation.

“This is a decision that has been given a great deal of consideration and thus, the last day of operation of the Crèche will be Friday 26th February 2016.”

Tammy Davies, whose son Bill has used the creche for the last couple of years, said she was “devastated” it was closing.

She said: “I use it on a weekly basis and it will mean that I won’t be able to take my children swimming any more as I used to put one in the creche while I took the other one to a lesson.

“I’m pretty devastated. It was a community service and probably the main reason I have a membership at that gym.

“It always seemed pretty busy whenever I used it.”

Clare Bailey, of Blisworth, said the closure had come as a big surprise to all the parents who use it.

She said: “Lots of parents use the creche so this enables them to use the gym, swimming lessons, personal training, classes and much more.

“Some parents have direct debits set up and swimming lessons booked and paid for the rest of the term.

“The nursery nurses are just amazing and have all worked there for many years. I am totally shocked and saddened by this news and feel the management just haven’t thought about the impact it will have on the children and parents that use this amazing creche.”