Nursery fears for future after sale of church hall

A nursery group has been told it will have to leave its home of 55 years because the building is being sold.

First Steps Playgroup, in Barlestone, is based at the Old School Hall in Church Road, but needs to find a new home by 28 March when its tenancy ends.

The Barlestone Church of England School Charity, which owns the property, said it was to be sold on the advice of the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE).

The DBE said it recognised the value of the playgroup to the village but that its use of the building was not in line with charitable objectives.

In a statement on social media, the playgroup - which has been providing early years care in the village since 1968 - said it was "deeply saddened" that it would have to move.

The playgroup, which currently has 41 children, said it was given notice to leave in November and is now looking for a new home.

It was initially told it would have to leave the hall by 17 February, but that deadline was extended.

However the playgroup said it would be unlikely to find an alternative base in Barlestone.

In a statement, the charity said: "We were under the impression that by renting to First Steps playgroup, who teach Christian values, we were meeting one of our charitable objectives in that it met the need to use the premises for religious education.

"Unfortunately we have discovered that this does not actually meet the charity's brief."

The trustees said they were disappointed at the outcome but had "no choice" other than to close the building and sell it as soon as possible.

Councillor Bill Crooks, who represents the village on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, said: "It's a big issue in a small village like this.

"Parents will have to travel, certainly to the next villages, to take the children and pick them up."

In a statement, the DBE said it recognised "the important contribution that the playgroup makes to the village and has encouraged alternative arrangements to be made".

It said: "Given that the old school building requires considerable investment to maintain, the DBE advised the trustees that selling the building would be the most straightforward option.

"In line with the charity's stipulations, any funds raised from the sale of the building would be used to support children and young people in Barlestone directly."

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.