PARENTS in Bassendean are raising concerns about the Town of Bassendean’s proposed sale of its long-standing Wind in the Willows childcare centre, saying the decision has progressed with limited consultation and transparency.

The town notified families on February 25 of its intention to sell the council-run childcare service and land at 28 Wilson Street to a pre-selected private buyer for about $2.5 million.

Wind in the Willows has operated as a council-run not-for-profit childcare centre for more than 40 years and provides early childhood education and care for children aged zero to three.

The town has also indicated the potential closure of its Ashfield Wind in the Willows service, which provides care for children aged three to five.

Parents representing about 107 families have questioned how the decision was reached and why the community was not consulted earlier.

Resident and parent Emma Barrington said the announcement came as a surprise to families.

“As parents, we feel completely blindsided by this process,” Ms Barrington said.

“Wind in the Willows has been a trusted community childcare service for more than 40 years, and many families specifically chose it because it is council-run and not-for-profit.

“We are not necessarily opposed to discussing the future of the service, but the community deserves a transparent process and genuine consultation before any final decision is made.”

Parents say they have been unable to understand the rationale behind the proposed sale because discussions between council and the prospective buyer were conducted confidentially.

Questions raised by families include when the centre began operating at a loss, when discussions with the buyer began and why an open expression-of-interest process was not undertaken.

Some parents have also questioned whether the minimum 14-day consultation period required under the Local Government Act is sufficient for the proposed sale of a long-standing community service.

Several residents have lodged freedom of information requests seeking documents related to the decision-making process.

The town has advised those documents will be released and published on its website.

However, the consultation period closed on March 13, meaning the documents will only become available after submissions have already closed.

Community concern has grown since the announcement, with more than 400 electors signing a petition requesting a special meeting of electors to discuss the proposed sale.

A rally was held outside the Town of Bassendean offices on February 27, followed by another demonstration outside the childcare centre on March 5.

A special meeting of electors is scheduled for March 25 and a special council meeting to consider the proposed sale will be held on April 9.

Parents say the centre has strong community value, noting some families have used the service across generations.

The Town of Bassendean said the proposal formed part of a review of council services and that rising operational costs had made the childcare service increasingly difficult to sustain.

“Transitioning the centre to a private provider would allow childcare services to continue while council focused on core responsibilities.”