Last summer I found myself the sole carer of my son and the playgroup was a Godsend. He loves it and I am able to continue working full time. The staff are wonderful and my son cannot wait to attend and I know he is safe. Why stop something that is good in the community, where friendships are being made, where the children are kept healthy through sport, arts, social skills. Once again something good is being stopped and replaced by badly run play groups or private firms that will charge high fees, impossible to be met by most parents. It is a sad day that something worthwhile is going to disappear.

The North Kensington Play Centres are absolutely essential to being able to carry on working during the holidays. I can't afford not to work and also can't afford the alternative more expensive private childcare options. I'm devasted to hear these centres will close. My child is safe and enjoys his centre, the staff are great and I feel secure knowing that he's well cared for while I have to be at work. Please keep this vital service!

Its an outrage I agree with all the above., My children have been with the same staff for many years and to lose this would be dreadful. LBHF have already privatised their services years ago and as this is now a Tri Borough sadly I can't see they won't adopt the same policy. You can't just dispense with good quality people because it's cheaper to go to the private sector it's all wrong!

I am in the same situation as parents above and also think that these play centres are essential in our community. For many of us, this is the only option for our children during half-terms and holidays while their parents work. PLEASE CARRY ON WITH THESE PLAY CENTRES, CHILDREN ALSO LOVE THEM!!!

My children both went to Cheyne Children's Centre and a couple of years ago we fought off plans by the council to privatise the nursery. We can do the same here. The council hate adverse publicity and will do anything to avoid it. I'd suggest tweeting about this, putting it on Facebook and whoever the organisers are, coming together to get a meeting with the council to explain what an absolutely essential resource the Play Centres are. I don't know what we'd do over the long summer. As usual, it's the Local Authority – one of the richest, if not the richest in the country – looking at penny-pinching ways to save money – while always hurting those at the bottom of the pile – both the amazing dedicated workers and the parents & kids. It's shameful.

I was really sad to hear the council want to close the play centres. My granddaughter has been attending the playscheme for over 6 years. She loves it, I know she is well looked after and safe. If the service is handed over to the private sector then standards will definitely fall, as they will only be interested in how much profit they can make. The council will be making a big mistake if they close them because the quality of care offered will not be the same and I hope they listen to the people who this affects and do not make a decision based on wanting to save money. They should look elsewhere to make savings and not pick on this essential service.

Keep the play centers

I've only just been alerted to a petition for the playcentres on the RBK&C council website, here's a direct link: https://www.consultation.rbkc.gov.uk/kms/epetitions.aspx?noip=1&DMartId=62&strTab=EPetitions&PageType=item&PageContext=Epetition I understand it needs 1500 signatures in order to re-open the debate so do please sign and forward! (If the above link doesn't work, go to: https://www.consultation.rbkc.gov.uk/KMS/EPetitionHome.aspx And click on a link to: Petition: Playschemes, Closing date: 07 Nov 2014)