I was disturbed to read last week that Cllr Leonora Thompson is determined to press ahead with her plans to close some nursery schools and privatise others.

Last Thursday, at the Acton Area Committee the leader of the council, Cllr Cudmore, denied that the council would close nurseries. He was withering to those who doubted his word and said that stories of the council wishing to encourage private childcare in vacated nursery premises were 'mischievous' rumours.

Parents of nursery age children and nursery staff have a right to know what the council's true position is. Council reports state that officers expect to find savings of £875,000 per year from cuts to nurseries.

Was Cllr Cudmore cynically playing word games to placate an angry crowd? Or is he genuinely ruling out the closure or privatisation of nursery schools to fund his deficit in social services? If the latter is the case, perhaps he will tell Cllr Thompson to stop spreading mischief.

Justine Greening

Governor of Maples and Heathfields Nursery Schools