A pre-school near Shrewsbury, which has been running for more than 40 years, will close its doors this summer after losing out on a tender for new premises.
Parents and staff at Bayston Hill Pre-school, have spoken of their sadness after Shropshire Council revealed it had been unsuccessful in securing a room at the new Oakmeadow School site.
The demountable building in the grounds of the former Longmeadow School, where the pre-school has been operating from for the past 12 years, will now be demolished.
The doors will officially close at the end of July on 43 years, meaning 10 children will have to be relocated elsewhere. Two long-serving members of staff will lose their jobs. Katie Dawson, pre-school committee member, said parents were ‘very sad’.
She said: “We had a meeting last week where we made arrangements for closing. It’s frustrating because the committee has worked really hard trying to get the tender sorted and for it not to come to anything seems such a shame.
“My husband went to the pre-school when he was four or five years old and there are other mums on the committee who went there when they were little kids, so it’s been a long standing thing in the community and it’s very sad.”
Katie added there were no alternative premises in the area and so it was deemed better to close the doors and go out with ‘their heads held high’. A farewell party will be held on July 21.
Margaret Gough, pre-school supervisor for the past 20 years, said: “The news is only just sinking in with us at the moment and having to tell people we’re finishing is a bit hard,” she said.
Neville Ward, Shropshire Council’s early year’s education and childcare manager, said: “We are building a new early year’s facility, linked to the school nursery, as part of the new Oakmeadow School development. We are obliged to go through a tendering process to decide who will occupy the completed building. Bayston Hill Pre-school tendered for the provision but were not successful, another local provider, Christ Church pre-school was appointed.
“We will offer as much help and support as possible to Bayston Hill Pre-school to find alternative accommodation and, hopefully, continue provision within the local community.”
by Charlotte Hester