UNCERTAINTY over the future of a much loved children’s centre has cost as much as £70,000 in lost bookings.

Council-run Glasbury House in Wales has given thousands of Redbridge children a taste of country life for more than 50 years.

But doubts over funding and talk of increased prices have seen a shortfall in bookings this year and it is estimated that the centre has lost as much as £70,000 in income as a result.

In a paper due to be presented to the council’s Overview Committee on October 30, Simon Barry, Director of Environment and Community Services, says: “Managers were unable to give schools any comfort that Glasbury House would be open, or what prices would be, therefore schools have found alternative provision for the year.”

Mr Barry’s report says seven schools have gone elsewhere and efforts by Glasbury House staff to replace the lost bookings have been unsuccessful.

The uncertainty around the centre resulted from March 2011 proposals to cut subsidies by £255,000, which would have meant schools and parents paying as much as £500 for a child to visit.

Cabinet revised those proposals a year later, phasing cuts over a three-year period, but it seems the uncertainty in the intervening year has had an adverse impact on Glasbury House’s finances.

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