By Brian Allison, local government reporter

Controversial plans to axe three Dundee nurseries are set to be given the go-ahead by the city council’s education committee.

Cotton Road nursery school and Sidlaw View primary school nursery class are both facing closure at the end of June with the nursery class at Mossgiel primary to follow a year later.

It is estimated the closures will generate savings for the council of more than £140,000 in a full financial year.

Recommending the closures, education director Anne Wilson said children affected by them should be given priority for placement in the nursery of their parents’ choice.

Despite an impassioned plea on behalf of parents with children at Cotton Road, the committee decided at the end of last year to authorise the director to formally publish and consult on proposals to close it and the two nursery classes.

Mrs Wilson said there was over- provision of nursery services in Dundee, with 134 fewer children taking up places than the previous year.

With the consultation now complete the director said a letter had been received from a group of parents of children at Cotton Road expressing a number of concerns, including that the period of notice for the closure was not enough, there had been insufficient communication with parents and staff, nearby nurseries did not have the capacity to provide places and a lack of continuity for the children.

Responding to the concerns Mrs Wilson said there had been communication with all parents affected by the proposals, both in groups and individually as well as with all members of staff.

She said all the indications were that there would be sufficient places available for children in the alternative nursery provision close to Cotton Road.

Mrs Wilson said continuity would be a priority, with visits for children arranged to the new provision accompanied by staff who would help them get to know the staff and pupils at the new classes.

Closure of the Mossgiel nursery class has been put back a year following informal consultation with parents but no new pupils will be admitted during the year.

Staff at all three nurseries are to be redeployed.