A COUNCIL is funding the purchase of a nursery building by selling the home of the town's Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

Bishop's Waltham Parish Council recently announced that they were selling Well House in Brook Street so they can buy the St John Ambulance Hall in Little Shore Lane, which is home to a branch of the Montessori Nursery network.

Concerns were raised over the future of the CAB in the town, but the parish council confirmed that they will remain at Well House after the sale. 

The CAB has been based at Well House since 2015 and estate agent Weller Patrick confirmed they would remain there. On Weller Patrick's website, it said: “Well House was formerly the parish council offices and is now occupied by the Citizens Advice Bureau since 2015. CAB have stated their intention to continue their tenancy and therefore the property is sold without vacant possession.”

The building is on the market for £350,000.

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A spokesman from Bishop's Waltham Parish Council said: “Bishop’s Waltham Parish Council has taken the opportunity to progress the chance to purchase the St John Ambulance Hall building in Little Shore Lane as a community asset. This building, which once enabled training sessions for St John Ambulance groups providing medical support to the town, now is home to a branch of the Montessori Nursery network. We have very few nursery setting provisions in our ever growing community, and the parish council is very keen to protect this essential facility for families as a key educational service. The Montessori Nursery managers and parents of the facility are very appreciative of this move by the parish council to ensure the continuation of this tenancy.

“In order to fund the purchase of the community asset, the parish council has reviewed its portfolio of assets and offered Well House in Brook Street for sale as an investment opportunity. The ongoing tenancy at the site of the Citizens Advice has been assured and they have confirmed their intention to remain at the site for the foreseeable future. The parish council has been fully supportive of the Citizens Advice service and has worked with the group to ensure they can continue their valued support to residents in the town and the wider Meon Valley.

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“We look forward to hopefully confirming the project’s successful outcome in due course - in support of the Montessori Nursery facility and the Citizens Advice service in Bishop’s Waltham.”

A CAB spokesman said: "We're aware that our Bishop's Waltham office has been put on the market by our landlord, Bishop's Waltham Parish Council, and that we're listed as the current tenant. Bishop's Waltham Parish Council is keeping us informed of developments; we can't comment further at this stage."