MOTHERS, staff and youngsters at a Bradford on Avon pre-school staged their last graduation on Thursday (20 July) as it closed for good after 40 years.

The Castle Gardens Pre-School group shut its doors for the last time after it failed to find new premises to move into.

The group had been using the Lambert Rooms for over 25 years but back in January it was given six months’ notice to leave because the building was being sold to a property developer.

Sharon Sheppard, manager of Castle Gardens Pre-School, who has worked with them for nearly 30 years, said three staff and 12 children had been affected by the closure.

Despite a fundraising campaign and support from local Tory MP Michelle Donelan and the town’s former mayor, Councillor Alison Craddock, the group could not find suitable new premises.

Michelle Donelan MP said: “I was saddened and disappointed to learn that the Castle Gardens Pre-school will be closing after forty years.

“I had the privilege of visiting Castle Gardens after my election as an MP and was delighted to meet the wonderful and attentive staff who have all worked so hard. Their closure is a great shame and will undoubtedly be a great loss to our community.”

With new housing developments planned, she said that Bradford on Avon was getting bigger and there was a need for pre-school care for young children.

Alix Cook, Chair of Castle Gardens Pre-School Committee, said they were “heart-broken” and that the final day on Thursday was a sad day for all involved – mothers, toddlers and staff.

“We tried and tried to find new premises in Bradford on Avon but there is nothing available. We did find a bungalow at the Christ Church Primary School but it needed £40,000 of renovations.”

Back in January, the pre-school was told it would need to leave by July 31, as Christ Church, which owns the Lambert Rooms, is selling it to help pay for vital repair works to the church.

Earlier this year, the Reverend Ann Keating said they had their reserve repairing the roof and the spire but were being forced to sell the Lambert Rooms to raise funds for further improvements.

She added: “We cannot afford the upkeep of both the church and the Lambert Centre. We are selling it so we have the money for a toilet and kitchen space in the church.

"If anyone needs to use the toilet they need to try and cross the busy road to go to the centre, for older and younger people this is difficult to do quickly. No one wants to see the centre close, but we are having to make the best out of a bad situation."

Most of the children at Castle Gardens are now transferring to another pre-school group at Winsley.