PARENTS are furious after Hillingdon Council refused to save their pre-school's site, instead opting to use it as a kitchen.

Manor House Montessori School had its last day at the Stables building, in Bury Street, Ruislip, on Wednesday (15) after the principal decided to hand back her licence.

Almost 800 people signed a petition in the hope the council would let the deputy principal, Angela O'Shea, continue to run a pre-school in the building.

A hearing to consider the petition was held on Thursday (July 16) with Councillor Jonathan Bianco, cabinet member for finance and business services, but he decided to reject it.

Mrs O'Shea said: "I'm just so disappointed. I will have to find an alternative site but I have looked everywhere and I don't have anything yet.

"If the council had told us their plans when the principal handed back her licence in October last year we easily could have found somewhere else.

"Out of the 34 children at the school there are 10 who definitely haven't found anywhere else to go."

Caren Vardy, one of the many parents who was at the meeting, said: "One of my children has just left the school and one was due to start in September. He's two but he won't get any education until he's three years and 10 months now and the council won't tell me where I can send him. I have written to them three times and they haven't replied."

The council have submitted an application for a new premises licence so more functions can be held in the Great Barn, and if this is approved the Stables building will be used as a kitchen.

Eastcote and East Ruislip councillor, Bruce Baker, said: "The council gets more than £16,000 a year from the school. If you combine that with the community groups who use the Stables it's going to be far greater than the income that may be raised by holding a few social functions throughout the year.

"If the licensing committee decided to refuse the premises licence where would that leave the Stables? I suppose it would remain empty because there would be no need for kitchens."

Cllr Bianco said: "There's much talk of it becoming a kitchen but it's not a certainty yet.

"When the Great Barn has been used for functions it has been greatly received. There's clearly a demand for it and the current kitchen is unsuitable."

The Ruislip Residents Association were also at the meeting to support the school.