The former Nursery building history and future use?

[15 storeys high]

i am just curious was the building always a nursery and are there any plans for the buildings future ?

[Paul Lincoln]

Yes. It was always planned as a nursery and in use until 2years ago. It is now planned to be used by ralph Perrin club and other community uses. The space they give up will then become part of the new leisure centre.

[Elizabeth VC]

I did speak to family services extensively about the possibility of setting up a parent-led community childcare thing, as we do need nursery spaces and there are lots of young children on the estate. However the official view is that there is no need for nursery provision. It's a real shame as the new school has only space for 6 under-3s for the whole City of London, with priorities for special needs, and the local nurseries are £1200-£1500 per week. We were initially told that the outside space might be available, and also a room down by the tennis courts, but then that was removed. I am pretty disappointed about all this.

[Paul Lincoln]

At the recent consultation meeting on the plans for the leisure centre, of which this building now forms a part, it was explained by the head of housing services that the building would be refurbished, adult toilets added and that it would be available as a community resource which would include use by the Ralph Perrin Club. It seems to me it might be reasonable for you to put this forward as one of a variety of uses to which the space might be allocated. The issue is discerning the overall range of possible uses from different groups on the estate and then allocating time in a reasonable manner.

Elizabeth VC said:

I did speak to family services extensively about the possibility of setting up a parent-led community childcare thing, as we do need nursery spaces and there are lots of young children on the estate. However the official view is that there is no need for nursery provision. It's a real shame as the new school has only space for 6 under-3s for the whole City of London, with priorities for special needs, and the local nurseries are £1200-£1500 per week. We were initially told that the outside space might be available, and also a room down by the tennis courts, but then that was removed. I am pretty disappointed about all this.

[Elizabeth VC]

There are two aspects to the discussion, as I understand it. First, the Children and Family Services unit has to decide that we need another nursery. This is apparently irrespective of whether it is completely independently funded or not, as the issue is whether it would be sustainable. Their view is that in view of the overall nursery provision in the city another nursery is not needed. I vehemently disagree with this, but that is the view currently taken.

Secondly is the building itself, which is part of Housing and as you say now managed along with the Leisure Centre. We were told it was unsafe and unsuitable for occupation (at the time the playground was growing weeds and the inside was full of old furniture. It seems safe enough for the builders though. We were not even allowed to look inside (see para above).

I had a lot of support from local mums, but it has all come to nothing.