Nursery plan at old Walsall working men's club

Chuckery Working Men's Club, once popular with staff from the Chamberlin & Hill foundry, was put up for sale two years ago after going into liquidation.

Now, plans have been lodged to convert the building in Lincoln Road into a nursery which would have capacity for nine babies, 12 toddlers and 16 pre-school aged children.

A report, submitted with the plans to Walsall Council, reads: "When at full capacity there will be 10 staff employed which will include eight staff working directly with children, a manager and cook."

A large room on the first floor would be used by children for physical and sensory play, as well as arts and crafts.

The building would be redecorated and existing bar facilities would be removed to make room for either children's toilets or baby-changing area.

Paddock Councillor Rose Martin said it would bring a redundant building back into use and encouraged the public to have their say on the plans.

She said: "It would give the building back to the community.

"It has a beautiful garden at the back which, provided it's made safe for children, would a lovely environment for them to play in.

"It is in a deprived area and I don't think there's another nursery in the vicinity."

Existing toilets would be adapted to be used by children and the proposals include creating six car parking spaces at the front.

Under the plans, the nursery would open on weekdays between 7.30am and 6pm.

Chuckery Working Men's Club went into liquidation in May, 2011 and the building was put on the market for £215,000.

An offer on the building is now in the hands of solicitors, but Steve Johnson, from property agent Fraser Wood Chartered Surveyors, said the sale was dependent on the plans for the nursery being approved.