Moulton Nursery and After School Club in desperate search for new home

Louise Pugh is desperately trying to find a new home for Moulton Nursery School and After School Club before August 31.

The setting is currently run from premises on the grounds of Moulton School, in a building owned by a charity group who lease the land from the school.

Louise explained: “I have had occupancy in the building since 2015. Unfortunately, our landlord terminated our lease agreement on January 31, 2022.

“With this knowledge I attempted to find alternative premises.”

Louise first tried to purchase Moulton Methodist Chapel in the village, believing her business to meet its community requirements, however after a long wait, she was outbid by a developer.

She then attempted to purchase a bungalow situated on School Lane opposite Moulton School, and only two doors from where the nursery currently resides.

Moulton Nursery School and After School Club

Her offer was accepted by the vendor but planning permission to turn it from a residential dwelling into a childcare setting was declined, and she had run out of time to appeal.

“With no other building in our village suitable for us to move to, we had no option but to tell our parents that we would be closing on December 16, 2021, Louise said.

“We invited parents to a meeting to discuss the situation.

“We were joined by the headteacher and deputy head of Moulton School and members from Moulton Parish Council, who have tried to support us for many months.

“Due to public pressure, our landlord extended our lease to August 31, 2022, to allow more time to find alternative premises.

“Attendance at the meeting was overwhelming with more than 60 people signing up to a WhatsApp group so they could be involved in supporting us.

“After much discussion at the meeting, it was clear that the village was short on land and suitable buildings that could home childcare.

“The school, which is more than 100 years old and already struggling with the ever-growing population of the village, did not have any space or land to house us.

“The only land they did have was being leased to our current landlord.

“However, they did have a derelict canteen building, which had fallen into disrepair.

“Sitting below the flood line with asbestos throughout, it has sat unused for the last 20 years.

“Due to school budget cuts year on year, there was no money available to remove and replace this building.

The disused canteen building

“The idea was put forward, by the parents in attendance, that they, as a community could attempt to raise funds for the school, so they could replace the building.

“The school would then hire it out to us, so we could continue to provide the much-needed service to the community, as well as generate a much-needed income for the school.

“A charity formed and called themselves Moulton Community Futures.

“Meetings were organised weekly, and everyone gave up their evening to work towards their goal.”

Much to Louise’s disappointment, a councillor informed the charity that the canteen had been placed on the council’s asset review list as an unused council building – putting a stop to the group’s plans.

This has since been denied; however, Louise and the members of the charity are still fighting to get a clear answer from the council about whether their plans could become a reality.

“What angers me most is the only people to suffer are the children and parents,” Louise said.

“There is a building sat on council/school land, unused, derelict for more than 20 years.

“Then there is a childcare provision, well-established and desperately needed within a community, yet somehow, despite tremendous efforts, the simple concept of using this building can’t be achieved.

“After 15 years of building my reputation within the village and caring for so many children, the last two years of trying to save my business, jobs, and service to my families has left me heartbroken.

“To lose everything through no fault of my own, with no explanation, and then to constantly think you have found the answer but be turned down on every occasion has been soul destroying.”

Councillor Robert Cernik, cabinet member for children and families said: “The Moulton Primary School canteen building is owned by the council and forms part of the school estate.

“The building itself is currently used by the school for storage and it is understood that there is an ongoing need for the building.

“It has not formed part of an asset review and will not do so whilst there is an educational need for it.

“A review would only be carried out if there is no longer a school or other educational use.

“We understand that the school is exploring various proposals for the building and the council will support the school in delivering a project once a realistic scheme and appropriate funding options have been identified.

“We have been in contact with representatives of the nursery, and they are fully aware of the situation regarding the building, including the school’s current and ongoing use of it.

“The council will continue to support the school, which may consider a redevelopment of the site in conjunction with the nursery owners.

“The details of this would be determined when there is an agreed scheme for redevelopment and the school is satisfied that this will not inhibit their future strategic development plans.”