Lammas Park Play Centre To Reopen

Popular local play leader moving Tippitoes sessions to park

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Lammas Park Play Centre, which closed in June due to council cuts, will be reopening at the end of this month under new management.

Dawn Buckley -the highly popular play leader who has run Tippitoes from The Log Cabin for over 17 years and more recently from St Faiths Church - will be moving her sessions to the play centre starting from July 27th.

She says she is very excited if a little overwhelmed at the prospect:

''I'm delighted to be starting at Lammas, a little bit of a dream to have my own little hub to share with families and friends in Northfields and an enchanted location. I'm just making a few minor improvements internally and hoping to open on Monday 27th July. Shabby chic.... respecting the old and creating the new. My summer programme will be drop in sessions Monday, Friday mornings and each afternoon. I'm running a course for 3-6 year olds for 3 weeks Tues, Weds and Thurs starting 28th July.''

The news has been welcomed by mothers and carers in the area who'd run a campaign to try and save the centre from closure.

They are delighted that Dawn, who has helped countless exhausted parents over the years with music/ play sessions for children and tea, cake and sympathy (when needed) for the grown-ups, is taking over.

Mary Horesh, who led the campaign says:

'' "I am so happy that Dawn Tippitoes Ealing is taking over the play centre, I could not have wished for a better person to take over the place. Dawn has been part of Northfields for so long and so many children have been nurtured by her Tippitoes classes and many a  parent she has given a reassuring boost over a cup of tea. I know that her Saturday classes were so invaluable to me with my little ones and have been going since my 3 half year old was under a year. I know many other people who feel the same. She is such a lovely person I am sure she will make a success of the place.''

Councillor Binda Rai, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Ever since we made the difficult decision to close the play centre we have been talking to local groups to find a way to restore stay and play sessions to the park, whilst meeting our savings commitments. I am delighted that Dawn is taking over the management of the centre. She is well-known and much-liked among local parents and I’m confident that she will be successful.

“Like all local authorities, Ealing is faced with enormous cuts to our budgets and we are being forced to make some unpopular and difficult choices. However, this announcement goes to show that creative solutions can be found when we work positively with local groups.”


A council spokesperson added:

“We are happy to confirm that Lammas Park playcentre will reopen at the end of the month following the council signing a lease agreement with local provider, Tippitoes. Tippitoes will run chargeable stay and play sessions from the playcentre building and a new fenced-off forecourt area. Access to the sandpit and the majority of the outside area, including the nature area, will remain free of charge.”

 More details and updates will be added to http://www.tippitoes-ealing.co.uk/  

15th July 2015