PARENTS who work or study at Oxford University in Headington may have one fewer thing to worry about as a new nursery opens to cater for rising demand.

The university submitted a planning application to Oxford City Council last month to develop teaching facilities at the Old Road Campus into a full-time facility for 98 children.

The proposed new nursery has not yet been named and is expected to open in September.

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Research technician at Old Road Campus Shubhashish Mukhopadhyay, 34, is thrilled by the plans.

Mr Mukhopadhyay and his wife Ekta considered a number of nurseries in the area before deciding to send their son Ayan to Jack Straw’s Lane Day Nursery, next to the John Radcliffe Hospital, also owned by the university.

But they say the new nursery at the Old Road Campus will be much more convenient and have registered their son for a place.

Mr Mukhopadhyay, from Headington, said: “My wife Ekta and I both work full-time at Oxford University so we have to have childcare.

“Ayan’s nursery is good but in rush-hour traffic it takes a long time to get there, and with a nursery next to work we will feel a little bit more secure if Ayan is unwell.”

Head of childcare services Jane Maharry thinks the planned nursery will be an asset to the university’s 12,000 staff and mature students.

The 35-year-old mother-of-one said: “There is a significant number on the waiting list to be satisfied and if we go through with the current plan they will be very pleased.”

City councillor for Headington Ruth Wilkinson has been asked to discuss the plans for the nursery at the east area planning committee on January 28 after residents raised concerns about traffic.

Spokesman for Oxford University Matt Pickles said: “We have carried out a traffic survey which can be seen in the planning application on the city council’s website.

“Approximately 65 per cent of places could be taken by people who already work on the Old Road Campus.”

 


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