FROM the protests at its sudden closure to a celebration of the opening of its new home, Down in the Woods Pre-school has come a long way.

Last November the pre-school, housed in Merley Youth Club’s aged hut at Chichester Walk recreation ground, was closed with just hours’ notice when Borough of Poole deemed the building structurally unsound.

More than 100 parents, livid that their childcare had been pulled without warning, marched on the Civic Centre to demand action – and they got it.

The council agreed to install structural supports to allow the building to reopen until the summer. The crumbling unit was then torn down and replaced with a £300,000 purpose-built log cabin as part of the council’s Sure Start programme.

This week the children and parents got to see it for the first time.

Manager Debbie Benjafield said: “The building is absolutely great – the children are loving it. We’re really amazed at what we’ve got now.” She added: “It was parent power that made it happen.”

Mum Nicola McClure, who was among the parents who took on the town hall, said: “The facilities are amazing compared with what we had before – I can’t imagine how they managed in that cabin that was falling apart.”

“The children and parents can’t believe their eyes,” she added.

The pre-school, which has 50 children on its books, now has an enclosed outside space which can be used all year round. It is able to offer an after-school and holiday club service for the first time.

Mic Mason, childcare manager, Borough of Poole, said: “We are very pleased that high quality childcare can continue to be provided in the Merley area to meet the sufficiency demands.”