Playzone at Checkers Superstore is set to close. Owner of the store, Sandpiper, has offered parents the equipment if a home can be found for it. Staff members Liz Roland, left, and Kelly Eborall look on. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0559567)
PARENTS must find a new home for Playzone for their children or it will be lost forever.Supermarket owner Sandpiper has decided to get rid of the facility, which has 2,600 youngsters registered, and replace it with a new cafe.
But it has donated the equipment, worth £70,000, to parents – as long as they can find somewhere for it. Nearly 600 parents signed a petition to save the service when it was first announced that Sandpiper was closing it down.
Jean Annetts promised to find a home for Playzone for her eight-year-old son, Jake.
‘I was disgusted when I heard it was closing,’ she said.
‘We made a petition, which had about 580 signatures, and we sent it to Sandpiper, but it made no difference.
‘I haven’t shopped here since they made the decision to close.
‘We managed to get the equipment out of Sandpiper, which has donated it to us.
‘We just need to find suitable premises.’
Any new home would have to cater for 18 children, the number allowed to use the facility at any one time.
‘We need somewhere to set up so we can keep the staff together,’ said Mrs Annetts.
‘Hopefully, a business will come forward with premises. It’s not just for our children to use but also for those in years to come. If they have nowhere to go they will rebel.’
Mark Cox, operations manager at Sandpiper, said the company was happy for the equipment to go to a new home.
‘We were keen for the equipment to go to good use and the parents were keen to put it to good use.
‘The parents were looking for options for childcare and it seemed like a sensible solution.’
Lucas Freight has offered to store the equipment for a few months, but the parents are hoping that someone will come forward with premises for a new playgroup.
Claire Palmer has two children, Dane, 7, and five-month-old Drew, who use the facility.
‘I was very disappointed,’ she said. ‘My son has been coming here since he was three. I’ve made friends with the staff as it’s been the same people over the years. It’s a shame to see another closure.
‘It would be great if we could find another premises so we could do our shopping nearby.’
Liz Rowland set up Playzone in Guernsey and Jersey six years ago.
‘I was pretty devastated when I was told it was closing. The positive thing that has come out of it is the great support we have from parents.
‘With the service we offer we are all hoping to reproduce this somewhere else.’
*Anybody who has suitable premises for a new playgroup is asked to call 729642.
Article posted on 4th April, 2008 - 2.31pm
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