New home found for kids’ nursery

Nov 6 2008 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

A DERELICT community facility in Larkhall is set to be transformed into a children’s nursery.

South Lanarkshire Council plan to build a new Children’s Centre on the land of the former Drop-In Centre next to Larkhall Library in Muir Street.

The existing Children’s Centre is based within the grounds of Larkhall Academy.

But the Academy along with the Children’s Centre are set to be demolished to make way for 375 homes.

Plans to build a new £14m state-of-the-art Academy in the town’s Broomhill Road were approved three years ago.

Now work on the new Children’s Centre, which will have a capacity to accommodate 64 children up to the age of five, is expected to begin in December if final approval is given.

While the nursery is being built, children will be decanted to the nursery at Machanhill Primary

The proposed Children’s Centre is expected to be ready for youngsters to move in by early 2010.

Labour councillor Jackie Burns, the council’s spokesman on youth issues, welcomed the decision to consider a new Larkhall Children’s Centre on the site of the former Drop-In Centre.

He said: “In order to facilitate the ongoing building work at Larkhall Academy, staff and children would have to be decanted before Christmas to the Machanhill Primary School campus.”

If agreed the new Children’s Centre will be purpose built and will include first-class facilities for under fives and it will complement the existing council’s nursery facilities at Robert Smillie Memorial Primary School, Hareleeshill Primary School and Machanhill Primary School.

The local authority have committed further investment in building a new nursery at Glengowan Primary School likely to be located in the Summerlee area.

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: “A new Children’s Centre site has been identified in Muir Street and it is hoped that the new nursery will be completed by end 2009/early 2010.

“If agreed it would mean that this Christmas/New Year, Larkhall Children’s Centre will decant to accommodation within the grounds of Machanhill.“

Since 2004, The Drop-In Centre was leased to Larkhall Activity Community Centre for £1 rent per year over a 25-year period.

But in April this year, the council gave the green light to terminate the group’s lease.

Last year the Advertiser reported how NHS Lanarkshire were keen to expand and secure land surrounding the Public Health Institute in Low Pleasance.

They wanted to purchase the former Drop-In Centre in a bid to improve parking facilities for patients and staff.