Councillors voted to axe Merrylee Nursery this week in a devastating blow to parents who had campaigned fiercely against the proposal.

The Evening Times broke the news on April 15 that Glasgow’s ruling Labour group made a decision behind closed doors to close 20 primary and nursery schools.

Merrylee Nursery children will be offered a place at the Lime Tree Day nursery in the new term, in a move that parents fear will disrupt their children’s education.

Jill Ledgerwood, mother of Rory, 4, and Rowan, 2, of Muirend, said: “Merrylee Nursery parents are devastated at the news that the council has failed to listen to what the community wants and we urge individual councillors to have the courage to be guided by their consciences and not toe the party line when they vote.

“Our children's future is far too important an issue and we urge the council to do the right thing, even at this late stage, and allow a free vote.”

The Save Merrylee Nursery campaign went as far as Holyrood and the City Chambers during the six-week consultation period to talk to MSPs and councillors, amid city-wide outcry about the proposals.

Langside SNP councillor James Dornan, leader of the opposition at Glasgow City Council, supported parents in the Newlands/Auldburn ward in their fight against the closures and described Labour’s decision as “heartless.”

He said: “I am deeply disappointed on behalf of the pupils and carers of Merrylee Nursery Class that the Labour Executive of Glasgow City Council have decided to go ahead with their heartless and ill-thought-out proposals to merge them with Lime Tree Day Nursery, despite the great campaign they fought and the effect this could have on both carers and children.”

Councillor Dornan also reminded parents their fight was not over yet. He said: “If enough of the parents, along with their friends and neighbours, let their local Labour councillors know the electoral price they will have to pay at the next election, we may still be able to persuade them to do the right thing.

“After all, they only voted for the proposals to keep their positions within the Labour group. Hopefully the fear of defeat at the next election will shake them out of their complacency.”

Lime Tree Day Nursery, housed in Merrylee Primary School alongside Merrylee Nursery on Friarton Road, offers an 8am-to-6pm service, while Merrylee specialises in two-and-a-half-hour blocks of structured learning for the children.

See the DVD film on the campaign’s website at http://www.savemerryleenursery.org/blogs/updates/