Parent says it’s 'unacceptable' for nursery at The Roundhouse not to be allowed to open

DHSC minister says his department won't give parents affected any support 

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 at the Braddan community centre, but the opening has been delayed due to a 28-day notice to stop access to the site, issued by the Department of Health and Social Care.

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 says it's only received generic replies.

Director Theresa Barton says it’s been a ‘difficult’ period for the company and it’s becoming ‘increasingly’ more so.

But, she's hopeful about the situation, and believes a resolution about access can be found.

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 says a planning condition on The Roundhouse means the nursery at the community centre can't open without a pedestrian crossing.

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 it's 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 the local authority's best interests financially: