Plans for nursery to ease pressure given more detail
PLANS to address a demand for nursery places in Govanhill have taken a step forward. Last year, Glasgow City Council bosses consulted on a scheme to turn an unused sports pitch next to Cuthbertson Primary School into a new nursery school.
As told by the Glasgow Times, the new nursery would free up two classrooms in the school, which is described by the local authority as “exceptionally busy”.
Official plans detailing how the nursery would look have been submitted to the council’s planning department for approval.
It is the next stage in a process following a public consultation that was held last year.
Local councillor Soryia Siddique said: “I am pleased the campaign for increased nursery places for local children has been successful.
“Families have been clear that there is a lack of early years learning places and have been raising this with me over the years.
“It is also important that the parental views of Cuthbertson Primary parents are listened to, and a commitment that an improved play area will be ensured for Cuthbertson Primary School children.”
Documents on the council’s planning website show the facility will be suitable for 87 two to five-yearsolds.
It will comprise four playrooms, a dining room, reception/office space, parents’ room, staff room, kitchen and laundry room and toilets/changing facilities.
The facility will be operational 52 weeks a year, open Monday to Friday between 8am to 6pm with no set sessions, to allow families to use their allocated hours more flexibly.
Pupil drop-off and collection will take place throughout the day.
No vehicle drop-off facility is proposed as the neighbouring school does not have one and car use for drop-off and collection is relatively low – at around a quarter of current parents.
On replacing the current blaze pitch, which has not been booked for use since 2011, the planning documents read: “The elevated level of the site make it unsuitable for ball games, with the risk of the balls going over the fence on to the road.
“The site is surrounded by poor-quality hoarding and close boarded timber fencing that is used for advertisement.
“The existing boundary treatment is not only an unattractive contribution to the appearance of the area, but also results in the site becoming an anti-social space outwith school hours due to the lack of natural surveillance. The proposed development will create an active street edge, with positive contributions to the streetscape.”
A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman confirmed the plans had been submitted.