Council leaders have approved the closure of a children’s day nursery despite a “powerful” message from the community calling for it to stay open.

Southampton City Council chiefs said Startpoint Sholing was not financially sustainable.

More than 400 people responded to a public consultation on the proposed closure, with 95 per cent saying they opposed the plan.

Residents, staff and union representatives spoke out against the closure at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, November 26.

Ali Haydor, of the GMB union, said the consultation sent a “clear” and “powerful” message to the council.

“The community has spoken,” Mr Haydor said. “The workers and the union members have spoken and more importantly the parents, the children, have spoken.

“The centre needs to stay open.”

Mr Haydor said the local authority should have approached the Labour government before holding discussions and meetings with staff.

Sue Atkins said staff had the decision hanging over them for more than a year.

She said Startpoing Sholing was popular, with the setting always having a waiting list.

“Where is the democracy or is this [consultation] just a tick box exercise and you have already made your decision because after all there are no children currently on the roll and staff have been encouraged to find alternative employment.”

A report to cabinet said the nursery had a deficit of £379,000 in 2021/22, £367,000 in 2022/23 and £358,000 in 2023/24, with a current forecast of £202,000 for 2024/25.

No new children were offered a place in September this year due to “uncertainty” about the setting’s future.

The cost of shutting down the service totalled £329,740 – £52,696 notice pay, £74,982 redundancy costs and the £202,062 budget deficit.

Conservative group leader Cllr Peter Baillie asked what was the point in having a consultation if the overwhelming response was going to be ignored.

“This is an ill-thought-out cut that has been disrespectful to the workers,” said Cllr Baillie.

Cabinet member for children and learning Cllr Alex Winning said it was never going to be an easy decision.

He said although a consultation had taken place, it was not a referendum.

“Since it has been open and operating for the last 20 years, it has operated at a loss in each of those years,” Cllr Winning said.

“There is an argument to say, and I think Cllr Baillie alluded to it, if anything I think this should have been brought forward and looked at sooner.”

He said alternative proposals put forward by the unions were based on estimates and still resulted in a financial deficit.

Cllr Winning added: “This is a difficult decision and one that will be very emotive for residents and staff as well as previous users.

“Even when taking into account the feedback received during the consultation, there hasn’t been anything presented that would constitute the setting becoming financially sustainable.”

The cabinet member said the decision was based on the lack of financial viability of the setting and it was not a reflection of the childcare provided.

The future use of the building in Wood Close will be decided at a later date.