MORE than 70 residents concerned over the future of Bere Alston's popular pre-school packed a meeting in the village's church hall last week.

Bere Valley Playgroup was closed suddenly before Christmas by the Pre-school Alliance, due to management and viability issues.

The PLA said the nursery had been struggling for several months, and issues surrounding its viability and difficulties in appointing a manager had led to the decision.

A campaign was soon launched to save the popular pre-school, which had been running more than 30 years.

With a large number of the pre-school's users not able to travel to find childcare, former playleader Hilary Boot-Handford said the closure would be 'detrimental' to children and parents.

She said: 'There is a group at Gulworthy and one at Tavistock but you are talking four and seven miles away, which is not good if you have not got any transport.'

The public meeting held last Wednesday was organised in the hope that a new committee could be established.

The meeting was chaired by toddler group leader Julie Marks, who has been masterminding plans to re-open the much needed local facility.

Also present were a panel of representatives from councils and private bodies.

Those present heard that whoever took over the pre-school would have to run it from the parish hall, where it was previously housed.

However, since the PLA had de-registered the pre-school with Ofsted it would take between three and six months to set up a new one with the correct registrations and qualified managers.

Claire Barren from Barnardos said in the meantime, they will be providing some two hour sessions, initially one day a week, called 'Stop and Shop', which, depending on demand, could be increased.

She also added that soft play and music and movement sessions, and other child activities were taking place at various times during the week, mainly at the parish hall, as well as the play bus from Tavistock Children's Centre on Thursday afternoons.

Five options were suggested:

l setting up a pre-school committee under another local charitable organisation

l an independently run pre-school with its own committee

l a co-operative run by former staff members

l a pre-school run under the umbrella of the local school

l or to run as part of an already registered pre-school.

Mrs Marks said she was pleased at the 'real community spirit' shown at the meeting.

She said: 'I feel very passionate about the rights and needs of children and young people.

'The children of the Bere Pennisular deserve and expect to have access to provisions that a pre-school can offer to enhence their lives for the future.

'It was very encouraging to see a wide cross section of like minded people from the community offering to support this new venture. There is now a light at the end of the tunnel.'

For more information or if anyone has ideas on how to save the pre-school, call Mrs Marks on 01822 840349 or email her at [email protected]">[email protected]