Scout leader evicting nursery says "playgroups are too much trouble"

Hyacinth Rodrigues, owner of Little Hands Nursery, based at 2nd Epsom scout headquarters in Christ Church Road, Epsom, has been given notice to leave by July.

The nursery – rated "good" by Ofsted in November – has been located at the hall for 18 years, which is owned by the neighbouring Christ Church Epsom Common and, in turn, is leased to the scout group.

Nearly 50 families use its facilities.

John Jordan, district commissioner for the Epsom and Ewell district of scouts, said they have not had a "better offer" for the hall, but another nursery would not be taking Little Hands' place once it leaves this summer as playgroups are "too much trouble".

A petition started to save Little Hands by Epsom parent Georgina Humphrey has attracted 260 signatures.

She said it is the only affordable day care in that part of Epsom and its loss would leave "a big hole".

"If they had given us reasons we could talk and find a solution,"Mrs Humphrey said.

"We want to fight for our nursery. 

"We are left so perplexed and flummoxed.

"It's devastating."

One of Mrs Humphrey's sons, who attends the nursery, has cerebral palsy.  

She added: "The care and attention they have given to him has been incredible.  He took his first steps in that nursery."

Another parent, Jim Edgar, from Surbiton, said: "Little Hands nursery has been a godsend.  

"Surely a compromise can be reached to ensure it can provide the unprecedented level of support, care and peace of mind that would otherwise be unavailable to many happy parents." 

But Mr Jordan, who is responsible for the hall's maintenance, told the Epsom Guardian that leaders of the scout group could no longer tolerate the "unreasonable behaviour" of Mrs Rodrigues and her husband Charles, who took over as owners in 2010.

He said they have grown tired of the couple asking for various repairs to be carried out to the hall more quickly.

These have included recurring problems to do with the heating, an incident involving the nursery moving down coat hooks on the walls so the children could reach them, and other issues to do with fluorescent lighting, a fire extinguisher and a manhole cover.

Mr Jordan said: "The leaders in the scout group have said enough is enough.

"You can never do enough to satisfy what they [the Rodrigues'] want.

"We can’t be running around at their beck and call.

"The attitude from the current owners has been unreasonable."

Little Hands Nursery has been based at 2nd Epsom scouts headquarters for 18 years 

Mrs Rodrigues said the couple have not been "asking Mr Jordan anything we shouldn’t be".

She said: "We are governed by Ofsted. If the lights go out or the heating is not working, we need it done quickly.

"Every time something goes wrong, John Jordan comes and fixes it but I don’t think he likes coming and doing it.

"He says ‘I’m contacting a friend to come and do it, you guys will have to wait."

Lindsey Conner, the nursery’s manager, said Mr Jordan is "not a person to respond quickly".

She said: "The heating goes off, the lights go out and if Ofsted was to walk in there would be problems."

Ms Conner said the boiler packed up in the middle of winter last year and the fluorescent lighting had to be dealt with because the nursery cares for children with epilepsy.

She added: "It’s petty things but nothing that couldn’t be sorted out by speaking to us.

"The parents are absolutely gutted.

"The nursery's always had such a good name.  It's very sad."

Mr Jordan said the scout group had not received a "better offer" for use of the hall.

But he added: "We don’t want a playgroup back again. They are too much trouble.

"The nursery is a business.  We are a charity for young people.  We are not a charity to assist a business."

The scout headquarters are owned by Christ Church Epsom Common and leased to the scouts 

Rosemary Donovan, vicar at Christ Church Epsom Common, said: "I met with the parties involved to see whether a solution could be found.

"Unfortunately this has not been possible.

"Christ Church is currently working with Little Hands and our existing tenants to see whether there is a way forward in terms of accommodating the nursery.

"There are a number of practical challenges to be overcome, and so at this time I am unable to comfirm what the future will be."