A PUBLIC-funded nursery looks set to close in September because it is under-used.

Worcestershire county councillors have approved a plan to close Malvern Primary School's nursery following consultation with staff, parents and governors.

A statutory notice has now been published, giving people four weeks to make their final representations. The decision is then expected to be ratified in June and the closure will take effect from September.

Lee Shrimpton, spokesman for the county council, said: "The council decided that council taxpayers' cash should no longer be used to fund a nursery with 26 places when there are only three children registered. It does not equate to good value."

The nursery can take up to 26 children in morning and afternoon sessions, equating to 13 full-time places. But in September 2006, there were only three children registered - equivalent to two fulltime places.

The county council's cabinet agreed at its December meeting to launch consultation on closing the nursery, which costs the taxpayer nearly £30,000 a year to run.

As part of the consultation, there was a public meeting at the school in Bluebell Close, Poolbrook, and separate meetings took place for staff and governors. Mr Shrimpton added: "If people want to object they can still do so, but it must be on the grounds that the decision was taken, and not just because they are unhappy about it."

He added: "There is nothing to stop the school from getting in a private nursery provider if they want to maintain the service."

Councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Nursery provision is important, but I am very worried about the the lack of peer group interaction for those three children at the school.

"We feel we have given enough time for the local community's confidence to return and it has failed to do so."

There are two other county council-maintained nursery classes within a 1.5-mile radius of the school, at Great Malvern Primary School and the Grove Infants' School, as well as nine private day nurseries and one playgroup.