On Monday morning I took a short break from tramping the streets in search of Conservative voters to visit the First Steps Playschool in Great Waldingfield. I enjoyed seeing children on their first day back after half term.
As regular readers will know the playschool was recently threatened with closure, or at best relocation. This was due to the fact that Great Waldingfield Primary School, in which the playschool is currently based, needs extra space due to higher demand from older children.
Playschool leader, Ann Stone, her assistants and a number of parents lobbied hard to get Suffolk County Council to agree to build new, purpose built, accommodation in the school grounds. County Councillor Colin Spence was also active in encouraging the Council not just to move but to move quickly, and the Playschool organisers managed to put together a viable business plan in record time.
As a result work will start on the new building next week. The site is illustrated in the photos above. I was lucky enough to have a look at the plans which are very impressive. A number of facilities that the playschool lacks at present are included, and in addition to a new outside play area there will be a wildlife area which will be shared with the school. I very much look forward to visiting the playschool again in early September when if all goes according to plan the new facility will open for business.
It is wonderful to see that local authorities can sometimes not only do the right thing, but also do it swiftly.
