Parents' petition in bid to save nursery

Busy Bees at Sutherland House, Russell Way, Three Bridges, announced its closure to parents on Thursday (February 20).

The nursery, which employs 12 staff and caters for around 40 children at full capacity, is due to close on April 17.

Vicki Lendon, whose son Leo, 3, has attended the nursery since he was one, said: “The disruption is massive.

“As a minimum they should have been able to secure it to the end of the school year.

“I don’t know any parent who wants their child to go to another nursery.”
Vicki said she expected 20 parents to attend a meeting in a bid to stop the closure on Monday (February 24).

She added: “We can’t understand why it’s no longer financially viable after so many years.

“If they came to us we would have found an alternative.”

A Facebook page for the campaign received more than 200 likes after it was set up the day after the nursery’s announcement.

Busy Bees has offered every child at Sutherland House a place at its nursery in Denvale Trade Park.

Cheryl Creaser, Busy Bees divisional director, said: “The reason for the closure is that our current lease is due to expire and having reviewed the financial performance of the nursery we recognise that it cannot be sustained.

“Whilst we understand that parents are upset at this news we hope they will take the time to see the excellent care and facilities available at Denvale Park.”

Busy Bees was arranging an open day at the nursery on March 1.

Cheryl Creaser said she valued staffs’ contribution to the success and popularity of the nursery and the decision to close it was not a reflection of their work.

She added: “We very much want to retain all of those staff members within Busy Bees and hope that they make the choice to stay.”

n For the petition, visit http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-our-nursery