INVESTIGATIONS are still continuing this week into the running of Greatham Village Hall.

And as a result of the investigations, by both the Charity Commission and the police, more than 80 toddlers cannot attend nursery and preschool in the annex attached to the Petersfield Road hall.

As reported in last weekÕs Herald, parents were shocked to receive letters from nursery and preschool supervisor, Sandra Allan, at the end of August informing them of the closure amid claims that the trusteesÕ of the village hall had changed the locks and refused to Mrs Allan a key.

And when tots turned up for nursery and preschool, with their parents, on the first day of term last week, they found that they were locked out. And parents were faced with a notice in the window from the trustees informing them of the closure.

The trustees have now released a statement informing parents and local residents of the current situation at the village hall.

The statement says: ÒActing on concerns reported by the charityÕs current management committee in May, the commission opened an inquiry under section eight of the charities act 1993.

ÒThe inquiry is focusing on the circumstances surrounding the granting of leases in 1993 and 1998 at a low rent to Mrs Sandra Allan to enable her to run her nursery school business in an extension to the village hall.

ÒCommission inquiry officers have met with representatives of the current committee, who are concerned that the charity has lost money, and have visited Greatham where they interviewed a number of past and present trustees and took witness statements from them.

ÒWhile the commission has yet to publish its findings, the evidence gathered so far confirms that there were serious irregularities associated with the granting of the leases.

ÒAt the conclusion of the inquiry the commission will publish a statement of findings on its website.

ÒIn the meantime, it is providing guidance to the committee so that it can act in the charityÕs best interests for the overall benefit of the people of Greatham.Ó

ÒAs anyone can see, the village hall is in dire need of external redecoration and the current trustees feel that, had business-like arrangements been operating with Mrs AllanÕs commercial nursery school, money would have been available to maintain the hall for the benefit of Greatham and its residents.Ó

Parents are advised to contact Hampshire County CouncilÕs nursery and childcare unit for advice on how to make other arrangements for their childrenÕs nursery education.

A spokesperson for the unit said they were aiming to reopen the nursery in the hall but under different management.

But, as The Herald went to press no decision had been taken on when a new nursery school would open.