The nursery – specifically for children of West Dunbartonshire Council workers – is earmarked for closure on July 31. Parents were informed of the plans via email last week.

Lynsey McAllister, 29, who runs the Save Garshake Facebook page has a three-year-old daughter who attends Garshake as her partner works for the council. Around 50 families use the facility.

She said: “We had no idea about the closure until we got the email. There was no meeting for the parents or anything. It came as quite a shock.

“It’s a cracking wee nursery, it’s so personal and the staff are amazing. You really feel they care about your child.” The council included a list of alternate nurseries in the area for parents to use after Garshake closes in the summer however the council nurseries are currently full, leaving only private, more expensive facilities.

Lynsey has looked into alternative day care but said it doesn’t match up to Garshake. She added: “I visited a private nursery but I didn’t like it – it felt very much like a business to me. Some are as far out as Milton, which for many families would not be accessible.

“The private nurseries are more expensive, so I would have to cut the amount of days my daughter can attend, which means I wouldn’t be able to go back to work either. I find it strange that the council would show disregard to their workers’ lives like this. Lots of families will be affected.” The parents hope the council will keep the nursery open until the council offices move to their new premises in High Street.

Lynsey said: “Everyone involved is really passionate about it, and I do genuinely believe that we should get a positive outcome. We’re not asking for indefinitely, it’s just for a couple of years, it’s a practical thing to do.

“There is other ways to save money, rather than taking services away from their own workers. The school day cut was overturned, the Women’s Aid cut was overturned, so I’m hoping they’ll see sense with Garshake nursery as well.” A council spokesperson told the Reporter: “The closure of Garshake Nursery will save local taxpayers £538,000 over the next three years. This was one of the main reasons this saving option was supported by more than 74 per cent of the 3,000 residents who took part in the recent budget consultation. Alternatives nursery places have been found for all of the children.”