Last-minute attempts to save Kingsteignton's popular but financially troubled Rydon Early Learners pre-school group have failed with the result that it will close at the end of the month. News of a cash flow problem and predicted debts was first made public at a meeting of the parish council last month. Chairman Cllr Jill Morris revealed that a request from the group for a £1,500 grant would have to be turned down for fear the money would do little to help. She said the auditing of the group's accounts was 'sadly amiss' and that any debts incurred would be the personal responsibility of the volunteers who were needed to make up the committee. 'How they can be expected to form a new committee I just can't see unless there are some very rich mums in the area,' she commented at the time. This week the clerk to the parish council, Carolyn Moist, had the closure news confirmed in a letter. 'Unfortunately the working party weren't able to form a new committee as they found out it would have taken them two years to get on their feet, the risk was too high' she said. 'It's extremely sad and I know that the committee didn't want it to happen. What is clear, though, is that there is a lot of interest in having another group and a lot of people who have said they want to help.' Although nothing formal has yet been heard, it is thought that with the demise of the group, Devon County Council could be preparing to undertake a 'total capacity study' to assess pre-school provision within the village. If that were to show an unmet meet it could pave the way for the county to help establish a new group. Mrs Moist expressed the hope that mothballed plans for nursery education at St Michael's C of E Primary School could be re-examined. When the school drew up the plans a few years ago the county council said the demand didn't exist but it is understood that the documents, including drawings for new buildings, do still exist. The government recently changed its mind and withdrew from a position that would have forbidden county councils to provide new education services, only commission them from others.
