Parents Devasted After Council Sells Nursery Site
PARENTS have been left “devastated” after hearing their nursery was being booted out after the site was sold by the council. The Kingsnorth Recreation Centre, which hosts Little Acorns Preschool, was sold by Ashford Borough Council to the religious organisation Winners Chapel International (WCI) early this year.
Manager Donna White Upset Over Staff and Children Displacement
Donna White, manager of the preschool, claims that she had been reassured throughout the period of sale that her team would be safe. But staff at the nursery have now told KentOnline they were on Wednesday morning informed by the solicitors for WCI, their new landlord, that they had to pack up and leave. Donna said that the site has 14 staff, 54 children, and a waiting list to deal with.
Nursery’s Uncertain Future
She said: “There are very few spaces locally so where will these children go?” The preschool has been open inside the recreation centre since 1996. But after the initial shock, Donna was told today that her team can stay at the centre until August, KentOnline reports. It remains uncertain what will happen to the nursery after that time limit. “We’re really upset, it was completely out of the blue,” Donna said.
Community Outrage Over Building Transformation
Last month the new owners put in planning application to turn the building into a church, while remaining a community centre. Danny Woodin, from Bridgefield, has a two-year-old son at the nursery. He called the nursery one of the best in the area, and a place where children love to go. Mother Lauren Clegg slammed the council for selling the building, saying: “It’s devastating. We don’t want to go anywhere else.” She said her daughter loves the nursery and the staff.
Emotional Reactions From Parents
David Nicholson said the nursery had been a “massive lifeline” for his family, and he felt “angry” after discovering what was happening. He praised Little Acorns for how well they did looking after his child. Chris Myers said the nursery closing would force his wife into giving up work in order to care for their children, and the decision had caused “a lot of disruption”. Mother Rebecca Woodin said she started crying when she first discovered the news.
Resolution and Reassurance From Winners Chapel
Enoch Akame, a trustee at Winners Chapel, told KentOnline that asking the nursery to leave immediately was a “big misunderstanding” which should have never happened. He said it was a “miscommunication” between their lawyers and the school, and they will work with the nursery. “We are not kicking them out,” he said. A Winners Chapel spokesman told Central Recorder: “Winners Chapel International Ashford are delighted to share with the community that an agreement was reached on 2nd May 2024 with Little Acorns Nursery in Park Farm. “We hope this kind gesture helps alleviate any immediate concerns for Little Acorns Nursery and provides sufficient time to secure another facility. “As a charity, we are committed to supporting our communities and are open to considering further requests to facilitate this transition.”