Pushchair protest staged over day care centre closure

Steffan Aquarone, who represents Melton Constable division on Norfolk County Council, drove his daughter’s plush companion 10 miles on a scenic route from the town, through the Holkham Estate and back along the coastal path.

Mr Aquarone, Liberal Democrat, said of the quirky awareness-raiser: “I’ve very keen on promoting female space exploration to my three-year-old daughter, so dolly has long worn a Nasa spacesuit. 

Steffan Aquarone and Helena Deakin pushed pushchairs around Wells and Holkham as part of a campaign to restore day care services to the town - Supplied/PA (Image: Supplied)

“The distance of 10 miles is no accident - that’s how far the county council seems to feel it’s an acceptable distance for those who live in the town to travel twice a day for childcare.”

Wells’ Polka day care centre closed in January after it was considered “no longer viable”, leaving no cover for 0-2 year-olds in the town. 

Joining Mr Aquarone on the 4.5-hour walk was Helena Deakin, a bank manager from Wells who has two young children. 

Mrs Deakin is leading a campaign to open a new day care centre as a not-for-profit charity.

Councillor John Fisher, the county council's cabinet member for children's services (Image: Norfolk County Council)

She said: “When my first son attended Polka three years ago it meant I was able to go back to work. 

“The rug has been pulled out from under our feet, and many of us can’t afford to stay here unless we have that facility.

“We’ve approached a couple of business owners to see if we could use their facilities, and then we can start the process with Ofsted.”

Councillor John Fisher, the county council's cabinet member for children's services, said: “An early-year childcare provision needs a workable number of children in order to operate, and it appears Wells doesn’t have the numbers.

“My £180m budget for children's services cannot afford a nursery in every rural community, and we cannot make an exception in Wells.”