North Yorkshire Council looks set to press ahead with the close of a children’s centre in Pateley Bridge.

The authority has proposed to close five centres across the county as part of cost cutting measures.

Among them is Nidderdale Children’s Centre, which is based at St Cuthbert’s Church of England Primary School in Pateley Bridge.

The council has recommended consulting on closure of the facility, which it says has not reopened since the covid pandemic.

Instead, officials have proposed giving the space back to the school in a bid to save the authority £13,400 a year.

Council officials launched a consultation back in March over the planned closure.

In a report due before the authority’s executive next week, the council said just one response was received in relation to the Pateley Bridge facility.

Read more:

• Simon Armitage poem to be carved in stone at Brimham Rocks
• Ripon educational farm features on Channel 4 series

The respondent did not agree with the closure and cited “lack of resources within the locality, requesting that the centre be retained for the development of groups to support children and their families”.

In response, council officials said:

“As evidenced in the report to exec member dated 7 March 2023 there was very little use of the building therefore it would not be financially viable to reopen this building. 

“Within the Nidderdale locality there are currently several groups that provide support for children and their families.”

The centre opened in September 2010 as a designated children’s centre. It was backed by £590,715 worth of Sure Start funding from the Department for Education.

The council said it does not anticipate that the government will request any of the money back.

Centres in Eastfield, South Craven, Kirbymoorside and Wensleydale will also be considered for closure.

Senior councillors will consider the proposal at a meeting on June 20.

North Yorkshire County Council is set to consult on the closure of a children’s centre in Nidderdale.

The authority has proposed to close five centres across the county as part of cost cutting measures.

Among them is Nidderdale Children’s Centre, which is based at St Cuthbert’s Church of England Primary School in Pateley Bridge.

The council has recommended consulting on closure of the facility, which it says has not reopened since the covid pandemic.

Instead, officials have proposed giving the space back to the school in a bid to save the authority £13,400 a year.

In a report due before a children and young persons meeting, Stuart Carlton, director of children’s services, will say:

“Previously used on an occasional basis for service delivery, the Nidderdale Children’s Centre building was unused during the pandemic and has not re-opened. There has not previously been any partner use of the building which connected to the school.

“The proposal is to release the space back to St Cuthbert’s Church of England Primary School, with an agreement that the premises would be used for direct work with children attending the school.”

Read more:

• Meet the man aiming to restore pride and ambition at Rossett School
• ‘Parents must accept responsibility for feeding their children’, says councillor

The centre opened in September 2010 as a designated children’s centre. It was backed by £590,715 worth of Sure Start funding from the Department for Education.

The county council said it does not anticipate that the government will request any of the money back.

Centres in Eastfield, South Craven, Kirbymoorside and Wensleydale will also be considered for closure.

County councillors will discuss the proposal at a meeting on March 7.