Nursery reopens after years of leaking rooves, door to door petitions and destroyed furniture

MP Stephen Timms cuts the ribbon for the nursery. Picture: Praminder Kaur (Image: Archant)

Praminder Kaur set up her nursery in Barking Road’s Hartley Centre in 2014 after discovering the astronomical costs of providing childcare for her daughter.

But in 2015, a leaky roof forced the council into shutting the building because of the costs of repairs.

Over the next two and a half years, Praminder saw the nursery’s furniture twice destroyed by squatters and she almost lost hope.

“When we had the 24 day notice to leave, we set up a petition and went door to door, and that’s when I got Stephen Timms involved,” she said.

The finished nursery. Picture: Praminder Kaur (Image: Archant)

“He wrote to the chief of Newham Council asking about the situation and suggested the council find us other premises.

“Without Stephen this would never have happened. I think he really wanted to help – he saw me as a young person trying to provide something for others.”

The nursery, now based in Stratford’s Hamrith Centre, provides care for children aged three months to five years from 8am until 6pm.

MP Stephen Timms with Praminder Kaur at the nursery's opening. Picture: Praminder Kaur (Image: Archant)