STAFF at a preschool in Corsham are pleading for help to find new premises after they were told their lease was not going to be renewed next year.

Rudloe Preschool, which operates from a mobile unit on the site of Corsham Primary School in Broadwood Avenue, were told that their lease would be terminated by the primary school in May to allow for a car park extension.

Despite contacting local businesses and Wiltshire Council, the preschool has been left without any solutions.

“We own the building at the back of the school but we lease the area,” manager Ally Selby, who has worked at the preschool for the last 15 years, said.

“Unfortunately the school have taken the decision not to renew our current lease next year as they want to expand, meaning our lease will end on July 30.

“We are desperate for help. We have tried contacting local businesses and even Wiltshire Council but we have not heard anything back.

“We pride ourselves on being able to provide care for children from lower income backgrounds and we don’t want to lose that.”

Rudloe Preschool, which currently looks after 18 children, is looking for a new home with at least two toilets, a kitchen area and a small outside area for children to play for around £5,000-£6,000 a year.

“We were rated Good in our most recent Ofsted rating, so we are obviously doing something right. It would be such a shame if we had to close, not least for the children that we help look after, but for our four members of staff who would be out of a job.

“Please help us find a solution.”

Gina Cooke, senior headteacher at Corsham Primary, said: "Due to the housing developments in the Corsham Area, Corsham Primary’s Broadwood site is expanding to accommodate the anticipated increase in pupil numbers.

"As part of the Planning Process the project team has to balance the needs of numerous stakeholders including Drainage Engineers, Sport England, Ecologists and Highways.

"As part of the planning pre-application process Wiltshire Council’s Highways advised the team on the number of parking spaces required for a school of this size.

"The only available place to situate these additional spaces without reducing the school playing fields or compromising the School’s secure line is on the elevated ground currently occupied by the Rudloe pre-school.

"It is an unfortunate situation and not a decision taken lightly, but we have had to ask the pre-school to find alternative accommodation.

Anyone who can help should call 01225 812939.