Sure Start hit by cash crisis

Sure Start, a national initiative described as the "cornerstone of the Government's drive to tackle child poverty and social exclusion", was due to start work next month on its new 1.3m community centre on the site of Wickbourne Chapel, Clun Road.

But Littlehampton Sure Start officials have now been told they will receive only 1m, placing a massive question mark over the entire building project, which was to house services for children under four and their families.

They have enlisted the help of Littlehampton's MP Nick Gibb and are seeking a meeting with the Government minister responsible for the national Sure Start programme.

Stuart Fairweather, programme manager for Littlehampton Sure Start, said the news had come as a complete bombshell.

"A tremendous amount of time, effort and money had gone into drawing up the plans, consulting with the public and then applyingfor planning permission. The 48,000 we have spent so far will be money down the drain if we cannot go ahead with these plans. That is such a waste of public money.

"We can't simply make the building smaller. It would be a question of having to start all over again."

Mr Fairweather said regional Sure Start staff in Guildford had given verbal confirmation on at least two occasions last November that the 1.3m bid would be acceptable.

"On that basis, we drew up our plans, held the consultation and showed the plans and the results of the consultation to the regional managers. At no time did they say anything was unacceptable."

A few weeks ago, however, the Littlehampton programme was warned there could be "a problem" with funding, and now confirmation has been given in writing from Sure Start head office that spending on the building is capped at 1m.

Uncertainty over the future of the building project could also threaten plans for a 50-place neighbourhood nursery due to be based there, which has been awarded 300,000 towards running costs and 96,000 of capital funding, but which must be in operation by next April.

"There are huge implications for us about how we take the Sure Start programme forward in Littlehampton now. We have all this money coming into Littlehampton to fund initiatives, but no suitable building immediately available.

"We are already struggling to provide services for children in quality surroundings '” this new building was integral to everything we are trying to do and is desperately needed in Littlehampton.

"Here we have a quality programme, by the Government's own admission working in sub-standard accommodation.

"To be told at this late stage we can't have the full funding is appalling. It's the worst case I have known in my 30 years of working in local government."

As well as the nursery, the new premises include a large hall, kitchen, open plan office, lounge, cafe, creche, counselling rooms, internet facilities and training rooms.

The funding decision is also a major blow to Arun Community Church, which owns the Wickbourne Chapel and would have shared some of the facilities in the new building, and the WIRE Project, which is currently based at the chapel and would have continued running its initiatives with families and young people alongside Sure Start.

Mr Gibb, who is due to visit Littlehampton Sure Start tomorrow to discuss the crisis, said: "I am alarmed that people have been led on to make plans and enter into commitments on one figure, only to then find out they are getting a lower figure.

"This is no way to conduct business. This could put the local Sure Start project, which is such an important scheme, in jeopardy. It is unacceptable and I have raised the matter in writing with the minister."

Sure Start's head office was asked to comment but had failed to do so as the Gazette went to press.