8:30am Tuesday 10th November 2009
By Timothy John
FURIOUS mums marched on Poole’s civic centre yesterday to vent their anger at the sudden closure of a council building used by a children’s nursery.
Angry parents with children at the Down In The Woods pre-school took their campaign to the council after learning on Friday that the Merley Youth Club building was to close with immediate effect.
Working mum Stacey Annis, 27, said she had spent a frantic weekend trying to arrange childcare for her two-year-old son Robbie.
“Friday evening was quite emotional. A lot of parents were phoning around family and friends to see if they could help with childcare on Monday,” said Mrs Annis.
Poole council said in a statement on Friday that the closure had followed a safety report, raising doubts over the building’s stability in bad weather.
Pre-school owner Debbie Benjafield said she had been given less than two hours’ notice of the closure.
“Two ladies from the Borough of Poole came round on Friday at about 1.45pm and said the building would close at 3.30pm. I was absolutely shocked,” said Debbie.
Ward councillor David Brown is demanding the decision be called in for scrutiny under urgent business at a meeting on Thursday.
Yesterday the council said it was checking its insurance policies and looking at ways to strengthen the building temporarily.
“Borough of Poole will make sure the parents are aware of available spaces at alternative providers and continue to explore alternative premises for a possible longer-term solution,” a spokesman said.
The recommendations of an independent structural engineer will be heard at a public meeting tomorrow at Hamworthy Social Club.
Mum Nicola McClure, 35, said: “None of the parents want to take their children elsewhere. They all want their children and Down in the Woods to be reunited.”
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