A parent has said the uncertainty around the opening of the nursery in The Roundhouse is ‘unacceptable’, and it will affect her child’s future.
Csilla is hoping to send her child to Little Cherubs nursery, the opening of which has been delayed due to a 28 day notice to stop access to the site, issued by the DHSC.
She says she’s now in a position where she may struggle financially to support her family and could have to stop working to look after her toddler.
Csilla says she knows she’s not the only parent in this position:
Little Cherubs has been contacting government ministers and MHKs to get answers about the situation, but have only received generic replies.Director Theresa Barton says it’s been a ‘difficult’ period for the company and it’s becoming ‘increasingly’ more so.
She says they’re remaining ‘hopeful’ about the situation and believe a resolution about access can be created between the two parties.
Nursery Manager Elisha Barton says parents are ‘anxious’ and worried about what will happen next for their children:
Health and Social Care Minister Lawrie Hooper claims due to a planning condition on The Roundhouse, the lack of a pedestrian crossing is now one of the reasons why he won’t allow the nursery to open.
His department oversees the registration of nurseries and childcare businesses and says Braddan Commissioners should’ve been aware of the potential problem when it was in development.
The health minister says his department won’t give any support to parents who find themselves with no childcare:
However, Braddan Commissioners says they’re in the process of applying for a ‘variation’ to the planning application.
This would remove the need to have a crossing in place before The Roundhouse is fully operational.
Chair Andrew Jessopp says there are already two pedestrian crossings on Braddan Road, and a third wouldn’t be in their best interests financially:
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