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Pre-school relieved after village votes on rebuild

Andrew Turner/BBC Hannah Catchpole inside the Acle Pre-SchoolAndrew Turner/BBC
Hannah Catchpole, manager of Acle Pre-School, said the investment meant the village would remain viable to families

A pre-school manager said it was a "huge relief" that a village had agreed to pay more council tax to see a classroom rebuilt.

The parish council in Acle, near Great Yarmouth, held a local referendum to ask residents whether it should borrow up to £300,000 for the project, and villagers agreed it should.

A surveyor said the mobile building housing the classroom, which is more than 20 years old, was at the end of its life.

Acle Pre-School manager Hannah Catchpole said: "We'd like to pass on our thanks to the community for supporting the pre-school."

Andrew Turner/BBC Acle Pre-School building and signAndrew Turner/BBC
Acle Pre-School is currently housed in a mobile classroom, which a surveyor said was at the end of its economic life

According to the Acle Parish Council website, there were 347 valid referendum responses.

The first question - whether the parish council should renew the building, known as The Fletcher Room - saw 68% in support.

Asked if the parish council should add £17.15 per year to Band D properties to fund the project, 54% were in favour.

A parish council statement said the councillors had agreed to put the work out to tender and then apply for grants.

"Our sincere hope is that should a loan be needed, it will be for a significantly lower amount," it said.

Ms Catchpole said: "We had the opportunity of this referendum to have a new building put in place.

"If it hadn't gone through I don't know what would have happened to the pre-school so it is a huge relief that it has been voted through positively and received well by the community."

She said they hoped the building work would be carried out during the summer holidays in 2025, ready to open then following September.

Andrew Turner/BBC Dave Savory, near the Acle Pre-School buildingAndrew Turner/BBC
Dave Savory, chairman of Acle Pre-School, said he was delighted villagers had chosen to help fund the building work

Dave Savory, chairman of the Acle Pre-School charity, said: "It [the referendum] was very close, but we're delighted the vote went in our favour.

"We can only see positive things coming from this in the future.

"The maximum of £300,000 [borrowing] which was voted on is the absolute maximum and, talking to the parish council, with the grants that are available it will be significantly reduced."

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