Where are the kids?!

8.00.00pm GMT Fri 29th Feb 2008

Labour's scandalous neglect of Brixton Children's Centre.

This is the £1 million pound building on Mostyn Road which should be alive with young children enjoying high-quality facilities.

But due to Labour's mismanagement and failure to push for the building to re-open no children have set foot in it since it was refurbished in 2006.

After contractors were called back to make good faulty work - including replacing most of the floor - the centre has remained empty.

The Brixton Children's Centre in Mostyn Road is designed to have a day-care nursery for 50 children (including babies), a drop-in crèche for up to 25 children and community facilities for adult advice and training programmes. It was extensively rebuilt in 2006 to also include a landscaped outside play area for young children.

Jointly funded by Lambeth and Sure Start, the smart new building was given extra facilities, and it should have been a major resource for the local community. But Labour councillors have sat back for nearly two years while this new building lies empty.

Meanwhile, Lambeth's council website has been claiming that it is among the fifteen operational Children's Centres in Lambeth. 'Brixton Children's Centre' is even listed in Lambeth's glossy brochure on children's services (although the map points to the wrong place!). But there are never any kids in the building!

It has been left to local Lib Dems to push for answers.

Former councillor Anthony Bottrall has been challenging the Council for answers for months. "I am furious that when we eventually got a reply we were promised that it would be ready in December 2007, yet it is still empty. I hope that compensation will be claimed from any faulty contractors."

Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem GLA candidate says "Local families need these services now - it's unbelievable that Labour councillors have not fought harder to get the centre open. It is just not acceptable to use squabbles with building contractors as an excuse to leave this centre closed for a year and a half."

Steve Bradley, who is the Lib Dem candidate in the council by-election in Vassall Ward on March 20th says "If elected I will demand answers on why there hasn't been more pressure to end the delay. Labour have failed to push for Brixton Children's Centre to be re-opened as soon as possible. They appear to think local services for kids aren't urgent - we disagree!"