Young families could be using a newly-built £390,000 village children’s centre as soon as the turn of the year after detailed plans for the scheme were drawn up. The early years and children’s care centre will be built next to Baschurch Village Hall, and if the scheme is completed, services will include access to a midwife and health visitor, internet facilities and parental support sessions.
Funding for the project has been provided by a grant to Shropshire County Council from the government’s Department for Children, Schools and Families, and outline plans are due to be submitted to the planning department at Shirehall this week.
The project has a completion deadline of March 2009, but staff at Baschurch Pre-School – which stands to move into the new facility once it opens – have said they hope to make the move from the village hall by January.
Under the plans, one half of the building will be used by the pre-school for early years sessions, while the other will have a range of services catering for families with youngsters up to the age of five.
An open day was held at the village hall last week, where residents got the chance to talk to county council officers about the plans.
Lisa Cordy, co-manager of the pre-school, said the new building would enable the pre-school to open for longer hours and cater for more youngsters in the area. She added fundraising initiatives were already underway to pay for new equipment.
She said: “It will be a fantastic facility and we are now looking for support from the local community.
“It means we will be able to cater for extra youngsters, and instead of having only two full days a week we will have five at the new centre.”
Neville Ward, SCC early years and child care manager, said it was hoped the scheme would go before the council’s planning committee in mid-September.
He said: “We had very positive feedback from the open day.
“In a best case scenario the building will be finished by January, but we have until March to spend the money.”
* Village news – see page 17 of North Shropshire Chronicle, July 24, 2008.
* If you have a story about your community ring us on 01743 283327 or 01743 283324 or email to EKasprzak@shrewsburychronicle.co.uk or CSymmons@northshropshirechronicle.co.uk