WORKING parents who rely on free nursery places for their children fear they may have to give up their jobs if plans to demolish a nursery are approved.

The day nursery in Queen Street, Great Harwood, will be flattened if plans to build a 18,000 sq ft Safeway supermarket are approved by Hyndburn Council.

The Lancashire County Council-run nursery provides subsidised places for local children.

Plans for a new nursery are part of the supermarket planning application, but parents fear a proposed site, the former Western County Primary School in Holgate Street, may be a private one which will not provide free places.

It is understood Lancashire County Council is reviewing nursery care from the area and considering allowing private nurseries to take over child care provision.

One concerned mother, who refused to be named, said: "Queen Street nursery gives us free places because it is subsidised. "I have heard they want to replace it with a private nursery. The nearest free nursery is in Accrington and it is full.

"I'm a single parent and the government said working mums like me could have free nursery facilities to help us get back to work. I need my job to pay the mortgage and look after my children, but I won't be able to go out to work if the day nursery is taken away.

"There are 40 other parents whose children go to the nursery. Half of them are in the same situation as me."

Staff at the nursery refused to comment and Lancashire County Council was unable to comment. The plans announced by retail giant Safeway could create up to 180 jobs in Great Harwood. Development firm Dransfield Properties Ltd has lodged a bid with Hyndburn Council to build the store.

The scheme also means an existing library and units at Plough Yard Industrial Estate being moved to other parts of the town.

Plans of the proposed Safeway development are on show in Great Harwood Library, Queen Street, this week, and council planning officers will be there to answer public questions between 2pm and 5pm today and tomorrow.

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