Jazzy Jungle collects 400 signatures against threat of closure from school

A local playgroup which faces being turfed out of their premises in Llandaff has submitted a petition with more than 400 signatures against a planning application to expand one of Cardiff's independent schools. The planning application from Cathedral School in Llandaff is for the change of use of Memorial Hall, currently owned by Llandaff Cathedral , and leased out to soft-play group Jazzy Jungle . Teresa Dupuy has run the family business Jazzy Jungle for five years in Memorial Hall and 15 years in Cardiff West catering for children under 10 years of age. Dupuy said as a competitive business she would struggle to find a new home for the playgroup. Signatures collected from more than 400 people in the area come from those who use the play centre as well as those in the wider community, and even parents with children at the school. Local councillor Kirsty Davies has used Jazzy Jungle for two of her children and said there was nothing else like it in the area. She said: "It wouldn't just be a loss of resources for children in the area but for mothers too. I've had several birthday parties there and there's just nothing else like it here. I will be very very sorry to see Llandaff lose the facility." Dupuy said she was called by landlords Llandaff Cathedral about the application after she had seen a letter sent out to parents given out at the end of term. She had since written three letters to Llandaff Cathedral but had received no reply. She told us: "It's hard for me to understand what's going on. They are trying to rush through some change of use application before I know about it. "There's nothing else for the children in Llandaff and Cardiff West, It's a very big area with lots of families who really need that facility and people can't afford to travel anywhere else." About the application from Cathedral school The application is part of a large expansion of the independent school, which was founded in 1880, to turn it from a preparatory school to an all-age school with a sixth-form. The school this week received top GCSE results with a 100% pupil pass rate for grades A*-C and 63% gaining A and A* grades. Headmaster Stephen Morris said: "We have recently announced ambitious development plans for the school, including the provision of a sixth form, and we look forward to sustaining academic excellence up to the age of 18 in due course." In a letter to parents dated 12 July 2010 , Cathedral School said the Dean and Chapter, part of Llandaff Cathedral, had agreed to sell off the Memorial Hall to be used a 'lodge' – an arts and crafts building to home reception to Year 2 students. The letter stated this would be subject to the landlords Llandaff Cathedral and planning permission from Cardiff Council – which has been sought. The letter states: We plan to extensively develop 'The Lodge', a C.19th listed 'Arts and Crafts' building, which will include the demolition of the current extension to the rear, to create a new home for Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. The Dean and Chapter have agreed, following a period of negotiation, to sell the Llandaff Memorial Hall (presently 'Jazzy Jungle') to the School, as part of 'The Lodge' development plans, subject to contract and planning consent. In a comment to this blog, Cathedral school said they hope to make the space available again to the wider community under their ownership. A spokesperson for the school in Llandaff said: "The Cathedral School has recently unveiled ambitious plans for a major redevelopment, which include the provision of a sixth form for the first time in its history, as well as substantially improving existing facilities for pupils in the infant, junior and senior sections. "As part of the proposed redevelopment, the school is in negotiation with the Cathedral to purchase the Memorial Hall in Llandaff. As well as providing an additional school resource during the school day, it is planned that the building will be made available to the wider community on a not-for-profit basis at other times, restoring the facility to its original purpose. "It would be inappropriate for the school to comment on any commercial arrangements the Cathedral has with tenants." In her objection letter to Cardiff Council's planning committee, Teresa Dupuy writes: The proposed change of use may include a provision for the building to be available to the community outside of school hours and events, but the building already provides a service for the community from 10am until 6pm 7 days a week with only 5 days closures a year. I have not been given an opportunity to renew my lease or discuss my business needs within the building by The Cathedral which owns the Memorial Hall. To approve a change of use would effectively close down the play centre which would have a huge negative impact on the village of Llandaff and the wider community. Llandaff councillor Gareth Aubrey said the councillors will be meeting with the head of Cathedral School and Llandaff Cathedral to discuss the application. He said: "Because of the impact on the business we are trying to gauge what this will be and the impact on the child facilities in Llandaff. Jazzy Jungle is pretty much the only facility in the area which is quite concerning." Dean of Llandaff Cathedral the Very Reverend John Lewis said he felt unable to comment and was not aware of the details of the application. See this article written by Llandaff News about the application. What do you think of the planning application and Jazzy Jungle? Leave your comments below.