CHILDREN at Knightwood Pre-School will benefit from a new building for their day nursery in Skys Wood Road, Chandlers Ford, after planning permission was granted.

As part of their plans to improve sporting and leisure facilities across the area, Test Valley Borough Council will be making changes to the Knightwood Leisure Centre.

As a result, children who used a studio within the leisure centre for their day nursery will now be relocated to a new free-standing building next to the leisure centre.

Planning permission was granted at the Southern Area Planning Committee, held at Crosfield Hall, Romsey, for the bespoke building which will comprise a play area, quiet area, holiday club room, staff office, store, kitchen and toilets.

Valley Park Cllr Alan Dowden, who campaigned for the plans, said: “The reorganisation of the Knightwood Leisure Centre by Places for People would have resulted in the loss of this excellent Knightwood Pre- School facility, essential to the families of Valley Park.

“It was my intervention at an early stage that alerted the council to this situation. I strongly argued that Test Valley Borough Council should provide alternative accommodation and was extremely pleased that the full council agreed with me.

“The separate building that will now be provided by Test Valley, will be a much-improved facility for the children.”

Community and Leisure Portfolio Holder, Councillor Tony Ward added: “In recent years a small studio inside the leisure centre has been used to provide a temporary solution for the children. The relocation of this facility to its own purpose build OFSTED approved nursery offers a huge improvement in facilities for the children and peace of mind for parents in need of childcare.

In addition, it offers increased capacity at the Knightwood leisure centre where a new state of the art 25 station gym can now be accommodated offering a more varied programme to encourage activity for local residents . This is a win win situation for all concerned.”

The plans were supported by Hampshire County Council and Valley Park Parish Council as well as local parents.

In a statement the joint owners of Knightwood preschool, Catherine Botto and Carly Dorney said: “We would like to thank the teams of both councils and all the others who have worked hard to keep our fantastic early years and after school and holiday club provision alive.”