Cancellation upsets holidays

The reality of Stratford District Council's holiday programme being cancelled has now hit home for many parents a week before the school holidays.

Comments received from Stratford parents include some taking alternative annual leave during the holidays.

It's been on the table since last year and it was decided to replace the council's programme with the council advertising programmes which include the TSB Pool Complex, TET Multisports Centre and the library.

A number of parents have phoned Stratford Information Centre requesting their child be placed in the council's holiday programme, only to be told it is no longer running.

In the 2011-2012 draft annual plan guidance, it was decided the school holiday programme be discontinued and the council would provide $5000 for advertising any school holiday programme for all providers within Stratford district.
The council believed it was competing with other providers in the community and agreed that $25,000 was too expensive to keep the programme running.

The Stratford Press asked Facebook followers what they might do now that the programme has been cancelled.

``Might be time to take annual leave around this time, spend some quality time with your children on holiday?'' commented Shane Lindsay, suggesting mums and dads took alternative holidays.

Sport Taranaki was contracted by the council to run various activities such as fun days out, farm days, sporting days and trips to New Plymouth.

Sport Taranaki events co-ordinator Terry Long says the council's decision is respected but says he is ``gutted for the kids''.

``I feel for the kids really. I will miss the kids. You form big brother bonds with them and it was great to see them learn new skills and develop them over the programmes.''

The Stratford Press asked Sport Taranaki whether there is an opportunity to provide some activities to children in the district.

``We haven't really talked about it but we don't want to undermine other programmes,'' says Terry.

Any programme provider in the Stratford area can fill in a form at the council to be included in next term's holiday programme advertisement in the Stratford Press.-->