A FORMER town centre pre-school is to be demolished next month but what the site will become is a mystery at the moment.

The Children’s Nursery closed its doors earlier this year because carrying out the repairs it desperately needs is more than the council can afford under increasing budget cuts, they announced in December. 

This week plans have been approved to demolish the site at the old Queen’s Park Community Hall in Euclid Street.

“The council is evaluating its options regarding what the site will be used for with a decision to be taken in due course,” a council spokesman told the Adver.

It is thought they will consider leasing or selling the land in the future.

While the planning statement cites that the building ‘is at the end of its useful life’ and demolition work is set to begin at the start of next month, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and 8.30am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Bringing in a private provider to operate the nursery was previously explored but it was thought no company would come forward given around £250,000 worth of repairs are needed.

However, staff and parents expressed their disappointment and sadness that it was the end of an era for the pre-school which has seen hundreds of youngsters come through the door.

“The staff here do a really good job so it’s them I feel sorry for the most,” one mum said earlier this year.

“It seems a shame they couldn’t carry out the work to fix it. I’m lucky because my child is leaving in September as he is now too old but I think this is a real loss for those who need it.”

The nursery opened in 1992 and originated as a work place nursery for council employees but places were extended to the community. The building was also home to the former Queens Park playgroup until 2008.

The town’s Labour party previously expressed their concerns about the closure of the facility.

Group leader Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney) said at the time: “Closing the Children’s Nursery seems completely unnecessary and counter-productive.

“The nursery, which provides an income to the council of £74,000, is one of the best subscribed nurseries in Swindon and is deemed ‘good’ by Ofsted.

“It is valued by parents as being in a convenient location within their local community.”

But Coun Fionuala Foley (Con, Chiseldon and Lawn), the cabinet member for children’s services, responded and said: “We have to look at what services we now provide given the financial situation and with a brand new nursery opening nearby it doesn’t make sense for us to pay for another as well.”