Families left in limbo as nursery set to become Met counter-terrorism base

By Owen Sheppard, Local Democracy Reporter

Dozens of families’ lives have been devastated by the sudden announcement that their nursery will close and become a counter-terrorism hub for the Met.

Kiddi Caru nursery sits beside Empress State tower in Lillie Road, Fulham, and is used as offices by the force.

The company, which manages 39 nurseries in the UK and charges £95 a day, was told by the Met in June 2018 that its lease would end in June 2019.

Despite being offered several extensions to its lease, the company has been unable to find new premises, after one attempt to find a new location collapsed in December.

Kiddi Caru said the company was supporting families to find alternative childcare before the nursery closes on March 20.

Parents of the nursery’s 65 children were furious that this long period of uncertainty about its survival was kept secret.

They were only told about the impending closure via an email on January 20, and were originally told it would close in mid-February.

Theodore Morith, 41, who works for a payment processing firm, said: “We have three girls who’ve been going over the last five years. Our son is two and he goes there.

“Pretty much all the parents feel devastated and in a dire position. We have put a lot of money into this company, we believe that as a family we should be treated better.”

Muneer Taskar, 40, said: “Our daughter is 20 months old. Childcare is a critical part of my family’s life. We initially thought the police were being heavy handed but that turned out to be not true.”

A letter written from London’s deputy mayor of policing, Sophie Linden, to Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon confirmed the reason for the nursery’s closure.

It said: “In June 2018, the MPS engaged with the tenant to say that the new purpose of the building was as a counter-terrorism and organised crime Hub.”

A group of parents met with Kiddi Caru’s chief executive Adrian Moore on January 27 and were joined by Liberal Democrat councillor Linda Wade.

Mr Morith said: “The chief executive said he was worried the parents would leave if they told us earlier that it would close.

“He said it was a ‘business decision’. He basically told us he decided to screw us so the company wouldn’t lose money.”

A spokesman for Kiddi Caru said: “We have gone to great lengths to look for alternative premises but this has not proved successful.

“We have been supporting families looking for alternative childcare by contacting other local providers and discussing their current availability, and this is the same for staff looking for employment, whether that be within the Kiddi Caru group or outside.”

Pictured top are parents whose children attend the nursery