A TODDLER war has broken out between a private children's nursery and one of the region's major house builders.

And nursery owner Carol Reilly has vowed to put her nursery under siege if necessary "until Wainhomes come to their senses!"

Carol, who started the nursery on Mort Lane seven years ago, says she has been gazumped in a land deal. She now has the full backing of parents and staff of the 108 under-fives who use the nursery.

The skirmish started after the Liverpool Roman Catholic Archdiocese, former owners of the almost four acre site, decided to sell the land. Best Friends Nursery, who have a lease dating back from 1990, say they had a verbal agreement allowing them to buy the land on which the nursery is situated.

But in a dramatic 11th hour move, the land was sold to Wainhomes - already at the centre of another controversy at Wesley Guild, Leigh - who now want to build a 6' fence on the site, effectively blocking in the nursery.

This, Carol claims, would put the lives of children in danger and make the nursery a fire hazard in an emergency.

She is seeking an injunction against Wainhomes' moves which, she alleges, is designed to drive her out.

Carol said: " I will not allow the fencing equipment to be brought onto this site while there is the slightest danger to our children. They will have to drive over me first!

"We have 23 staff here and if we are forced to close before we have a chance to relocate in an orderly manner then many of them will lose their jobs and I will lose my business which has taken all these years to establish. "On top of that, and far more important in the long term, the children themselves will suffer because they will all have the upheaval of moving to another nursery, if one can be found.

"We are determined to make a stand and we are prepared for a siege if necessary until Wainhomes come to their senses and talk properly to us and give us adequate time to find other premises.

"We sincerely thought we would be allowed to buy this piece of land otherwise we could have been looking for another site earlier. I am disgusted with the whole affair and how major companies like this think they can walk over everyone."

And one parent, Sarah Haughey, who is also a GP, added: " I am appalled at what is happening. It will affect me and is also totally devastating to the rest of the parents.

"As a GP I am very concerned about the welfare of the children who will lose that all-important bonding they have built-up with the fantastic staff here.

"Wainhomes should show a human side and come to proper terms for the welfare of these youngsters and everyone who works here."

It is the second major battle Wainhomes have fought in recent months. They have been under fire recently from residents around Wesley Guild, Leigh, after they bought land regarded by locals as their 'village green' and started building homes on it.

Residents are still awaiting an application to have the land legally given village green status, which, if successful, would mean Wainhomes having to tear down the properties and putting the Guild back to its original condition.

With battle lines now drawn on two fronts Jeffrey Faulkner, General Manager for Wainhomes in Hindley, commented: "We have been in close negotiation with the Reilley's, owners of the nursery, and we are trying to facilitate an agreement with them over a short term, but our individual solicitors are meeting to try to come to an arrangement."

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