PARENTS are fuming after the shock closure of a council-run holiday play scheme in Boscombe on Thursday.

The Boscombe Chine Boredom Busters finished after Ofsted inspectors raised concerns that the site did not meet its minimum standards.

A petition is now being set up to try and re-open the play scheme for four- to 12-year-olds later this summer.

Inspectors said that the site does not meet Ofsted’s minimum requirements for the number of toilets, and for the provision of appropriate learning and development opportunities for the youngest children following an inspection on Tuesday, the Daily Echo understands.

Bournemouth council also said it had been unable to establish a sufficient staff base which could cause problems if any staff are absent.

The council also says it does not believe that Ofsted’s concerns can be addressed in time to allow it to re-open this summer.

However, angry parents, informed of the decision by a Bournemouth council letter on Thursday, say that they are happy with the scheme and demanded that the council does more to keep the scheme open over the summer.

Single parent Kathryn Segouini, of Warwick Road, Boscombe, who had two children attending Boredom Busters, has started a petition to re-open the scheme this summer.

She said: “It was never intended for educating children but for play. All these things could be overcome."

Pauline Haynes, a Kings Park High School governor, said it was a lifeline for deprived children in Boscombe. Both she and Kathryn are both Criminal Records Bureau checked and would be happy to help out Boredom Busters staff, they added.

Neil Goddard, service director for children’s strategic services, apologised to parents and said those who had prepaid would receive a full refund. He said: “We have carefully reviewed the concerns Ofsted has raised regarding the Boscombe Chine Gardens site and are not satisfied that these can be fully addressed in time to enable the site to re-register and reopen this summer.”

Although there are toilets in the café these only open at 10am, he said. All other Boredom Busters play schemes remain open, he added.

An Ofsted spokesman said that a number of statutory requirements had not been met “in ways that placed children at potential risk of harm”.