Future looks bright for Water Street Pre-School

It’s taken six years, but the future of Water Street Pre-School in Bollington has now been secured through a transfer of ownership from the council to a community trust, Bollington Initiative Trust (BIT).

The trust has granted a long-term lease to the school, giving them the security they need to plan for the future. It has also provided a temporary home for the girl guides and brownies following the closure of the Bollington Methodist Church.

Shirley Sugden, chair of Bollington Pre-School, said: “In 2012/13 Bollington Pre School faced an uncertain future, as the Methodist Church where we had been located was facing closure.

“Bollington Pre School has given this amazing old school building a purpose and with approximately 70 families from our local community sending their children to the Pre School each year. It is a vital resource for those families living in Bollington with young children.

“I know BIT have worked tirelessly over the last few years to secure this building for community use and in doing so have secured our Pre Schools future which we are absolutely delighted about.”

Trust chairman Will Spinks said: “The process of completing this transfer has been long and technically difficult. I would like to take this opportunity to thanks to all of those who have been involved particularly, one of our trustees, Lester Humphreys, Bollington Town Council and councillors Ken Edwards and Bill Livesey from Cheshire East.

“However, while the transfer is now complete, this is just the beginning. A campaign will now need to raise over £300k to do necessary maintenance and return the whole building to sustainable use.”