The Culture and Leisure Department in Guernsey are looking into ways of saving money at Beau Sejour Leisure Centre and the first cost cutting exercise is focused upon the crèche, as the crèche has been running at a loss. The Dept would like to implement the following 2 changes:

Point 1
Increase half hourly rates of the crèche from 80p to £1.50 for Freedom members, £1.10 to £2 for Choice members and £1.90 to £3.50 for non-members.

Point 2
Reduce the opening hours from
Mon - Fri 9.00am –12.00pm/1.30pm – 3.00pm and
Sat 8.30am to 12pm
TO JUST 9AM TO 11.30AM (Mon - Fr)i & 9AM - 12PM (Sat)

Point 1
I feel that it is totally unrealistic and unfair to expect parents to pay a minimum of an 80% increase, when the cafe has recently seen goods increase by 20%. Yes, it is expected that costs increase but not by such a margin. Many parents will no longer be able to pay the new charges and thus no longer use the leisure centre and in a society where obesity is high, it would be terribly unfortunate if the proposed new costs actively discourage parents from continuing to keep fit because even their local public leisure centre has become too expensive to use.

Point 2
By reducing the open times the crèche will be under huge pressure to cater for the users for only 2 and 1/2 hours each day. Again this may actively discourage use of the leisure centre facilities if no alternative child care can be found.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF ANY SUGGESTIONS/IDEAS YOU HAVE THAT I CAN PASS ONTO BEAU SEJOUR AND THE CULTURE & LEISURE DEPT.

Thank you.