THE WILLOWS Nursery School will remain at the Liphook Millennium Centre (LMC) until July 2016.

The Willows were going to be at the Millennium Centre until this month, but the centre’s management committee has agreed an extension.

As previously reported, the Willows had been evicted from the pavilion building it had been using on Liphook Recreation Ground in the summer.

Manager and part-owner of the Willows Nursery School Jackie Finlayson said: “This gives us some reassurance as it gives us a lot more time to continue looking for somewhere permanent.

“Ideally we will find somewhere in Liphook, as that is where the demand is. We are still exploring every avenue.”

A Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council statement said: “The Liphook Millennium Centre, at its meeting on November 19, agreed to extend the hire period for the Willows Nursery School to the end of the academic year (July 2016).

“Furthermore, the committee agreed an extension of the rental amount agreed in August, of £31.74 per day, up until February 2016, with the rest of the academic year being charged at a fee of £54 per day, with free use of the kitchen and a small charge for storage.

“This falls well below the fees usually charged at the LMC but the committee were mindful of the current financial situation of the nursery and wanted to support them whilst they seek alternative premises.

“The committee did not agree to the request for an extension beyond July 2016 as they were of the view that the LMC is a community facility and is currently heavily subsidised by the council tax payer.

“It felt that usage of the centre should be, as far as is possible, to the benefit of community users and having a permanent pre-school housed in one of the most popular rooms does not allow for this.

“It was also felt that the layout of the building is not conducive to housing a pre-school, for example, the toilet facilities are not adjacent to the room and there may be some disruption caused to other users.

“The parish council has recently met with the Scouts and Guides Hall committee but they are not currently in a position to house a pre-school.

“The parish council will continue to look for alternatives but would urge any land or property owners to come forward if they have premises which may be suitable for this purpose.”