UNCERTAINTY hangs over the future of the toy library and drop-in centre this week with the news that they could be in danger of losing their Petersfield home.

The two services for children in the Petersfield area are housed in The Cabin beside the pavilion, which is home to the Acorns Opportunity Group.

The Cabin is also used by Acorns for small group and management meetings.

It was announced this week that the temporary planning permission to site The Cabin on town council-owned land will expire on December 31.

Last time East Hampshire district councillors gave it permission they said it would be the last application they would grant for The Cabin.

The battle for the renewal is another problem facing Acorns 2000, the group which is also fighting for planning permission for an Early Years Centre aimed at bringing groups for young children under one roof in the centre of Petersfield at The Avenue.

East Hampshire District CouncilÕs planning officers turned down its plan for a new centre at The Avenue because they said it would mean a loss of public open space.

At the time of the planning refusal, the secretary of Acorn, Kath Patten, told The Herald that although the Acorn Opportunities playgroup would continue despite the refusal of planning permission for the Early Years Centre, the toy library and drop-in centre were in doubt.

This week Carole Patrick, secretary of the Petersfield Society for Special Needs, under whose umbrella Acorns currently operates and which owns The Cabin, said: ÒThe Cabin is desperately important and without it there will be groups who will be destitute.

ÒIf it cannot remain where it is until such time as the Early Years Centre is built, then an awful lot of people will be homeless and baseless.Ó

Planning consultant Kris Mitra, who is acting for Acorns 2000, told The Herald: ÒWhen East Hampshire District Council refused planning permission for the Early Years Centre it said it supported the principle, but wanted us to look for another site.

ÒAt the end of the day the services provided by Acorns need a place to function and if EHDC does not renew planning permission, the local authority is effectively saying Ôwe donÕt want this service to continueÕ. That is the message I believe would come out of it.Ó

Mr Mitra added: ÒWe as a planning consultancy take the view that the council ought to renew the application, and it would be a formality as there has been no change in circumstances from the grant of the previous temporary consent.Ó

He said Acorns was actively pursuing provision of better replacement facilities on site Òand the matter is now the subject of a planning appeal due to be considered in MarchÓ.

The Petersfield Society for Special Needs has asked town councillors to support its application for further temporary permission for The Cabin.

On Tuesday night town councillors said they could not write a letter of support until they saw the planning application.

Chairman of the planning committee George Watkinson said: ÒAs soon as we have received their application it will be discussed immediately and an appropriate letter will be written.Ó