A VILLAGE preschool finally has a permanent home after a 16 year wait, now that a new purpose-built building has been gifted to it.

Alderbury Preschool has been the lucky beneficiary of a new purpose-built building as part of the Pembroke Park development in Alderbury. This building has been built and delivered for free as part of the developers community projects.

When Lord and Lady Radnor sold part of their Longford estate for the new housing estate, an agreement was put in place that a new preschool would be provided with a new building.

Alderbury Preschool started as a village playgroup in the 1960s for two to five-year-olds running in the village hall a couple of times a week.

As the village has grown so has the preschool, moving locations several times and has been situated in a temporary building on the grounds of Alderbury and West Grimstead school since 2008.

The preschool has been at capacity with a waiting list for some time and having only had two classrooms it's been a struggle to balance the age variations. This new building has allowed the preschool to grow with the needs of the village and provide more structured spaces for all ages.

The Vistry Group has provided a three-classroom preschool, purpose-built to the needs of the team for free as part of their work on the Pembroke Park estate in Alderbury.

The preschool can now take children from six months which opens up availability for parents with the new funding opportunities.

The building team under Will Mills have allowed the preschool team to be involved as much as possible and have worked around our needs as much as possible providing a high-spec building which has also been provided with solar panels allowing us to keep ongoing utility costs low.

Vistry also provided a walk-up changing station, Wickes Salisbury provided a community grant and discounted the kitchen which has allowed the team to focus more funds towards children's resources and JB Plumbing and Heating has also gifted the staff a hot tap allowing them to have a quick cuppa while looking after all the children.

The team have worked hard and spent the last two years fundraising and applying for grants and raised a whopping £15,000 allowing them to upgrade some of the more tired resources which have been donated over the years.

A spokesperson said: "As a charity preschool which is run with a parent-trustee committee group every penny counts.

"This new building will allow us to start our next chapter growing in a daily capacity of 29 to 42 children a day, we also provide wrap-around care to the children of Alderbury and West Grimstead school.

"None of this would have happened without the generosity of the local community who have supported us at every stage over the years, attending events, making donations of preloved toys, books and clothes and even dropping off yoghurt pots for our craft.

"This is extraordinary, particularly given the financial challenges most families face.

"The team will never be able to truly thank everyone who has helped us achieve everything we have so far and as we continue to grow. We are holding an open party for the new building on Friday, April 12 between 10am-12pm providing free cake and refreshments - everyone is welcome.

"Lord and Lady Radnor will be there to cut the ribbon and officially open our new building."