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Army's help leaves nursery with big bill
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Thursday 7th Mar 2002.
AN attempt by local soldiers to give a helping hand to Angeline's Nursery in Calne has resulted in a catalogue of errors, which may mean it has to close down.
Angeline's, which is based in a mobile classroom in the grounds of Priestley School, needed to get an additional mobile in by the end of this month to take advantage of a grant it has been awarded by the National Lottery.
The mobile has been in storage since last year, but the nursery was not able to put it in position because the Priestley School playing field in between the nursery and the road, was waterlogged.
When the non-profit making nursery found out it would cost £3,500 to have an artificial road laid, and to transport the mobile in without damaging the field, owner Pauline Crane was at her wit's end, knowing the nursery had no funds available for the work.
As a last resort she contacted the Army's 47 AD Squadron at RAF Lyneham and was delighted when it agreed to do the job without charge.
But, she claims, the soldiers left 3ft holes in the playing field and failing to site the mobile.
"It's all been one horrible cock up," said Mrs Crane. "They have destroyed the field. They came in with a crane and it got stuck. Then they brought a lorry in to get that out and that sunk as well.
"I knew straight away it was all going horribly wrong but they wouldn't be told I feel like crying."
Mrs Crane said the group came with a lorry that was too small to manoeuvre the mobile. They had to use two lorries, one facing forwards and one in reverse, to try and move it.
She also claims they put down thin boards instead of a proper road which did not protect the field.
"It wasn't secured and they went right past the other mobile, full of children, about three feet away. It was so dangerous."
"I originally approached them as a last resort and was so happy when they said they would help us. They were the only ones who could provide us with what we needed for free.
"But they ended up putting in the foundations for a swimming pool and walking off without telling us what they're going to do about it.
Mrs Crane says she now fears the nursery may have to close. She says she has no idea how they will get the money to pay for a temporary road.
Nor does she know how they will pay the bill for Monday's wasted crane hire, and for hiring a crane again if and when the mobile is in put in place. The bank has refused her a loan.
The field is used by local youth football teams and a match has had to be cancelled this weekend because of the state of the pitch.
David Witt, the headteacher at Priestley School, said: "The playing fields have been damaged and I know Mrs Crane is doing everything she can to sort this out."
Yesterday the soldiers' commanding officer Major Andy Gardiner said: "We did go in with the best intentions and unfortunately we have let Mrs Crane down. We couldn't complete the job because our crane sank.
"We are doing our best to solve the minor damage that was caused. It was by no means intentional.
"I have sent some boys down there today to repair the divots in the ground and the few paving stones which were unfortunately cracked."
Corporal Ivan Bradford, one who tried to help out on Monday, said: "We were their last resort. We all have families of our own and we just wanted to help out the kids."
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