PARENTS have vowed to fight to keep their trusted playgroup open after council bosses axed its funding.
Sands End Playhouse, in Stephendale Road, Fulham, has been running an under-five's drop-in nursery for nearly 40 years and regularly hosts up to 100 children at a time.
But Sands End Association Projects in Action (SEAPIA), who manage the Playhouse, staff and parents were told last Friday that the £94,000 a year funding would not be renewed by H&F Council.
They have one final chance to appeal to the council to reverse their decision during a presentation to the cabinet on Thursday (15/7).
If they are unsuccessful then the Playhouse will close in September.
Mother-of-four Lucinda Glassey, 41, said: "This is a tragedy. People come from all over London to this centre because all the staff care so much and it is a great place where parents can feel safe to leave their children."
Brendan Bird, SEAPIA management committee member, said: "This centre is the envy of the entire borough but seems to be an easy target. We are furious that this decision has been taken and we will fight it all the way."
Barbara Nicholson, mother-of-two, said: "If the council have their way the building will be left empty. The kids will be gone and crime will take hold. They're going to turn our playhouse into a crack house.
"When I had my children I was incredibly lonely and depressed and close to needing medication. But then I came to the Playhouse I immediately met lots of other people in the same position and made great friends.
"This is so much more than a Playhouse. It is a lifeline for parents across the borough and that is why this is so appalling."
Hundreds of parents have already emailed local councillors to protest the decision and are planning to hold demonstrations while a Save the Sands End Playhouse Facebook group currently has 300 members.
H&F Council say they will continue to provide SEAPIA with the £50,000 to pay for their outdoor adventure playground at the site for five to 13-year old's over the next 12 months.
But, while encouraging the centre to raise their own funds, they insist that there are plenty of other drop-in centres to cope with the Playhouse closing down including the drop-in service at Bishops Park, St Matthew's Church Young Parents & Toddler Group and Fulham South Children's Centre Baby Rhymetime.
Councillor Helen Binmore, cabinet member for children's services, said: "We really value the work that SEAPIA does for children and young people in the local area.
"There are however many other under-five projects in the area and parents already have a variety of excellent providers to choose from.
"Our funding decisions have been difficult indeed, but in the current economic climate, community groups cannot rely on the council as their sole source of funding and expect to receive increases on last year's grants.
"We simply cannot afford to give money to everyone that requests it. Many community groups run with help from residents and become self-sufficient, and this is an option that we would like SEAPIA to explore so that they can still provide the under five's drop-in service."
