Islington Tribune - News: Parents flock to support threatened nursery

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 25 May 2007

Jane Gilbert with some of the parents, carers and children who turned up to show their support for Bandstand Nursery on Tuesday

Parents flock to support threatened nursery

PARENTS, carers and children turned up in their hundreds to show their support for the threatened Bandstand Nursery on Highbury Fields at an open day on Tuesday.
Supporters signed a petition calling on Islington Council to continue to give its cash backing to the drop-in nursery, which caters for more than 1,000 children a month during the summer.
The nursery is one of dozens of subsidised charities based in council-owned property – including Aberdeen Park nursery – which could be forced to shut because they cannot afford the proposed market rents.
Chairwoman of the Bandstand Nursery’s voluntary management committee Janet Gilbert said: “Thanks to the publicity in the Tribune, we had a huge crowd.
“It shows that people want to keep this nursery, which for more than 30 years has been such an important part of Highbury Fields for parents and carers with young children.”
Deputy council leader Lib Dem Councillor Terry Stacy said the council wanted to develop a fairer system for the managing of properties.
He added: “The council owns more than 60 buildings and has an obligation to get the best return for taxpayers.
“But we also want to make the best use of the accommodation so that each organisation uses a property that matches their needs.”

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