THE number of places at a Burnley nursery school has been halved - but the empty classrooms are to be turned into a community centre.

Lancashire's Chief Education officer Christopher Trinick has confirmed that the number of places for toddlers at Accrington Road Nursery School will be cut from 160 to 80.

He admits that this is partly because of cash pressures on the county, but says because of declining numbers of youngsters there are too many nursery places in the area.

There are two other nursery schools - Howard Street and Myrtle Bank - nearby which will provide enough places to meet demands, despite the cut at Accrington Road.

However, Mr Trinick said the move at Accrington Road is more than "a convenient budget saving."

It has provided an opportunity for a multi agency community centre there. The plan is to produce a new Elm Tree Families Support Service in the building, to provide services in South West Burnley to parents and children.

The project is being backed for three years by National Children's Home Action For Children cash and involves nursery schools, health visitors, social services, Burnley College, Burnley Borough Council and the South West Burnley Project Voluntary Organisation.

Mr Trinick said various county and borough council committees were due to approve the families support service.

In a letter to Burnley MP Peter Pike, he says he hopes he has allayed the concerns and reservations expressed by some people about the change and that he is confident that the proposals will improve support for families and children in the area.

Mr Pike said he was happy that there was a genuine case for cutting the size of the nursery and that there was adequate provision nearby for all children who needed nursery education.

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