A MOTHER claims a council is ignoring the needs of fam-ilies on a Durham estate by failing to provide childcare.

Despite being one of Europe's largest estates, Newton Hall does not have a local authority-run nursery.

It does have a private nursery - Busy Bees - but the fees are higher than those normally charged by Durham County Council.

Concerned that her daughters, Jennifer, two, and Chloe, one, would have nowhere to go, Newton Hall resident Vicki Waters, 26, who has childcare qualifications, offered to set up a nursery herself.

She wanted to adapt Framwellgate Moor community centre, which used to house a playgroup.

But when representatives of the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership visited the building they were concerned about its high ceilings, access to toilet and baby changing facilities, access to kitchen facilities, and lack of outdoor play facilities.

They said it would cost £20,000 to bring it up to standard, and advised Mrs Waters that she would have to apply for government funding - which she would be unlikely to get, and so would probably have to invest her own money.

She said: "From talking to other young mothers, it has obviously been a problem for years.

"We have all these childcare initiatives coming through but nothing is being done on our estate.

"It might cost £20,000 to renovate the community centre but is that not worth it to get nursery places?"

Mrs Waters said if the council was not willing to set up a nursery in the community centre, it should make provision in a local primary school.

She has written to Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg and the council's education department to express her frustration.

She said: "Our council tax is over £80 a month, which is a great deal of money for a young family like mine.

"Why should disadvantaged areas get money and ours not?"

In a letter to Mrs Waters, Keith Mitchell, the council's director of education, wrote: "I am sorry that you feel demoralised in your attempts to develop childcare facilities in your area, but the securing of appropriate premises is often fraught with difficulties, and representatives from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership will always endeavour to give realistic support and the correct advice."