ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR REBUILDING OF CRICKLADE PRE-SCHOOL

Cricklade Pre-School Playgroup will finally get a new home, thanks to a recent donation by local developer Newland Homes, who wanted to support a cause in the Wiltshire town where it built its first property, thirty years ago this year.

The Cricklade Pre-School Playgroup moved into their current home, a prefabricated building on Bath Road in Cricklade, 18 years ago. Previously the town’s library, the playgroup provides a fun and caring location for children from age two up to school age. The parents and supporters have fundraised tirelessly for the past two years to raise the £100,000 required to replace the existing prefabricated building, which is on its “last legs” according to the Playgroup Committee Chair, Susie McDonald.

Susie comments: “The nursery staff are passionate, dedicated and extremely nurturing and the children absolutely love the time they spend at the pre-school.  It plays a special role in our community, but the nursery building doesn’t do the facility justice, so we set out to make the building the best it can be.”

As a registered charity, the Cricklade Pre-School Playgroup Committee has raised the money for a new building through bingo nights, jumble sales, sponsored cycle rides and has also received support and donations from local companies, such as Newland Homes, who donated £5,000 to their cause.

Susie continues: “The generous donation from Newland Homes means that we now have the money and confidence to go ahead with demolishing and replacing the existing prefabricated building, which was built in 1971 and was unlikely to last another winter.  It has always been our dream to have a more modern prefabricated building, with brand new toilets and carpets, and now we can!”

David Foreman, Managing Director of Newland Homes, comments: “Cricklade is a special town for us as it’s where we built our very first development back in 1991, thirty years ago this year.  Over the past three decades we have created and supported communities and the plight of the pre-school really struck a chord with us.  We’re currently building our latest homes in Cricklade called Stones Farm, and we’re privileged to help the next generation of children benefit from such a fabulous local resource.”

The existing prefabricated building is scheduled to be demolished this summer during the nursery’s summer holiday period.  A new building will then be craned into place, ready to welcome the return of the children in September for the new term. 

Newland Homes is based in Gloucester and retains a special connection with the Wiltshire town of Cricklade.  One of its most popular house designs, the ‘Cricklade’ is named in tribute to the town.  The company is currently building 25 bespoke three and four bedroom properties at Stones Farm, off West Mill Lane in Cricklade.  The homes are eco-conscious, with thoughtful design touches such as integrated eco-bins to encourage recycling, water butts and garden composters, helping people to live more sustainably and preserve resources for the next generation. The company is also starting construction of its first collection of zero carbon homes in North Somerset this month.

Stones Farm has proven extremely popular and there are just two four bedroom homes remaining, priced at £485,000. Tailor-made viewings are available daily from 11am to 5pm. Please call 01793 398108 for further information or visit www.newlandhomes.co.uk/cricklade    

Cricklade Pre-School Playgroup has a Justgiving page for further contributions to their rebuilding costs. Please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cppbuildourfuture