Libdem Councillors object to 'storing' infants in ship containers

11.14.45am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 26th Jul 2007

Cllr Stephanie Eaton with the Wilkinson family, who are campaigning to save the Victorian Mowlem nursery

Parents of nursery children attending the Mowlem workplace nursery are concerned about proposals to demolish the 99 year old building and replace it with ship containers.

Local ward Councillors Azizur Rahman Khan and Stephanie Eaton spoke of their dismay at the proposed demolition of the building which has been described by the Victorian society as "attractive, sound and well-loved". Cllr Eaton commented on the spacious high ceilings, thick walls, large windows and attractiveness of the existing building which could easily be refurbished. She noted: "This is a little gem, which has happily served our community as a nursery for decades. The building is 99 years old and could last another 100 years with some basic maintenance. To demolish it and replace it with short-life shipping containers is unnecessary and incomprehensible. Our infants deserve the best, shipping containers are not high quality accommodation and our kids are not freight!"