MP’s delight as pre-school gets a new home (From Wharfedale Observer)

MP’s delight as pre-school gets a new home

9:27am Thursday 17th May 2012 in Local news By Jim Jack

An under-threat Otley pre-school will continue with a new name and home after the summer.

Parents feared the worst when Otley Methodist Pre-school announced in April that it would no longer be able to be run at the Methodist Church after July.

But the pre-school, which has served the town for quarter of a century, has now confirmed that it will open as Bright Ideas Pre-school, and be based at Cross Green Community and Youth Centre, from September.

The development follows several meetings with officers at Leeds City Council, who own the community centre, and has been hailed by the local politicians who helped the pre-school group.

MP Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West), who had written to the council asking if affordable, alternative premises could be found, said: “I am delighted that the Bright Ideas Pre-school will open its doors in September, having now secured the Cross Green Community and Youth Centre as their new home.

“The Otley Methodist Pre-school was a popular and well-attended school that has served the town for more than 25 years, and I was concerned to hear that they were unable to secure premises to run it from for the children hoping to return next year.

“While I am pleased they have secured a new location, the school will have to pay rates for the new premises, unlike at the Methodist Hall.

“I will, however, continue to work closely with the school to ensure they are able to continue providing the excellent service to the town that they have over the past 25 years.”

For more details about Bright Ideas Pre-school, which will open in September and care for children from the age of two, contact manager Lisa Hayton by sending an e-mail to lisa@methodistpreschoolotley.co.uk.

Otley Methodist Pre-school, meanwhile, will close following a visit by Ofsted inspectors in July.