NINETEEN families have been left looking for a new playgroup for their children after Brambles in Rosyth announced it is to close down on 19th December following a meeting last Thursday.

This is the third playgroup to close in the area over the last year as Brambles follows Limekilns church toddlers group and Donibristle playgroup.

Based at Rosyth Methodist church, Brambles has been a steady feature in the life of the community for 43 years.

Run by a small committee of constantly-changing parents, the struggle to keep it going had brought it to the brink of closure in the past. At least one job will be lost as a result of the closure but many members of staff have already found alternative employment.

Howard Kirby, chair of the Brambles committee, said, “It’s very sad but the writing’s been on the wall for some time. Numbers have been dropping for several years.

"We are turning our planned nativity into a celebration of the playgroup and are hoping for lots of people to come down.” Falling numbers of children attending meant that the group has been running at a loss, propped up by loans, fund-raising and donations.

The committee has tried to reverse the decline with improved publicity and leaflet drops but with little sign of improvement.

Extending the age range to two-year-olds was considered but government plans to offer free childcare to some two-year-olds and the opening of a Fife-funded crèche facility at the Parkgate Centre meant that that too might prove unsustainable.

Having decided that the present level of operation could not continue, other options had been considered, including reducing the number of two-and-a-half-hour sessions in the week from five to three and partnership or takeover by another group.

In a statement, Brambles playgroup said, “It became clear that there was no alternative that offered an immediate prospect of breaking even and hence the service will not be provided in the new year.

However, the charity will continue under the present management committee in order to recover money that is still due to it and to arrange for its dissolution.

“In the meantime, we are grateful to our loyal staff and to all those supporters and funding bodies who have helped Brambles in the past, especially the charity CSNIPs (Children with Special Needs in Playgroups).

“We are particularly grateful to the staff and customers of the Gothenburg Hotel, whose recent fund-raising efforts raised £249 that will help enhance the end-of-term Christmas party for the children and celebrate the 43 years of pre-school education through play that Brambles has provided.” Brambles has been based at Rosyth Methodist church since it started in 1971. Originally a service provided by the church, in 1980 a separate charity, run by parents, was formed.

In 2014, the Care Inspectorate’s quality ratings for the service was ‘Good’ in all categories of assessment.