The town hall of Saint-Denis plans to close three toy libraries out of the eight in the city to cope with the explosion in energy costs. Childminders and users have launched a petition against the project.
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« I am revolted! “ Nassera Dakhti, childminder has not taken off since she heard that the town hall was considering closing the Poullain toy library located a few minutes walk from her home. For thirteen years, she has been a regular at this place. “There are dinner parties, construction games, children meet other children, I go there every day except Monday, the day of closing “says the childminder.
Of the 8 toy libraries in the city, the municipality is considering closing three, the Allende, Sémard and Poullain toy libraries. ” Like all local authorities, we are facing an energy explosion. We have an announced additional energy cost of between 3 and 7 million euros for 2023, so we are trying to pool as much as possible “, explains Katy Bontick, first assistant to the town hall of Saint-Denis, highlighting the low attendance of the 3 threatened toy libraries.
However, the elected official ensures that this is not a stoppage of public service policy. ” We are not closing activities, and we are not laying off any agents. The activities will take place in another place, either another toy library, a community center or in the mobile toy library “, continues the chosen one.
A speech that does not reassure Nassera Dakhti. The childminder has custody of four children aged 8 months to two years, so even if another toy library is less than 600 meters away, she is determined to fight against the proposed closure. ” I have a double stroller, and the other two little ones walk, I can’t take the car every day, and then they want to close the other toy libraries during the school holidays, where are we going to go? », she wonders. She has launched a petition with other childminders and is planning a meeting with users on Tuesday evening.
La France Insoumise, in opposition to the socialist town hall, has also joined this fight. ” This is an absurd decision! », denounces Bally Bagayoko, LFI leader in the canton, and defeated in the last departmental elections. “We are in a territory where there are already inequalities in access to education with the lack of teachers. The game is also an element of knowledge “, he defends.
« But nothing is decided yet “, assures you at the town hall, the budget will be discussed from November in the municipal council during debates which promise to be animated.
