Parents' anger as multimillionaire owners of luxury hotel close nursery
Crossbasket Nursery School in the grounds of Crossbasket Castle estate in High Blantyre, Lanarkshire, is closing — leaving parents scrambling to find alternative childcare. About thirty jobs are also under threat.
The estate is owned by husband and wife Steve and Alison Timoney, who have a combined net worth estimated at anywhere between £60 million and £100 million. They bought the A-listed derelict property in 2011 before developing it into one of Scotland's leading luxury hotel and event venues.
Creating a nursery formed part of the original planning consent for redevelopment plans for the 17th-century building.
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The popular nursery, which caters for more than 100 children, boasts a 'culinary-designed kitchen and highly trained chef' who provides fresh healthy meals and snacks.
Amid an angry backlash from parents and local MSPs, the owners have granted a stay of reprieve until October.
The 'devastating' news for parents comes just months after Crossbasket Castle opened a lavish new 40-bedroom hotel within the 'grand estate' after a £20 million expansion opened in March.
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It also boasts a 'brand new entertainment-led dining experience' overseen by chef Michel Roux Jr, who owned the 2-Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche in London.
Crossbasket is also poised to open its deluxe Four Angels spa this autumn alongside two new eco-cottages.
Collette Stevenson, the East Kilbride MSP, said on Tuesday she was 'deeply concerned by the closure' for parents and their children, as well as for the staff due to lose their jobs.
She said: 'The closure of Crossbasket nursery has left families shocked, anxious and scrambling for solutions. I've heard from many local parents who are rightly devastated and worried about the impact this will have on their children and their ability to work.
'I am committed to doing everything I can to support the families and push for urgent answers from South Lanarkshire council and the nursery's operators.'
According to Stevenson, a public meeting on Friday was attended by worried families demanding answers.
She said no one from Crossbasket Castle was able to attend as it coincided with a nursery staff meeting.
Stevenson said: 'The nursery, which has served families for years, is due to close its doors leaving parents in a desperate situation with no alternative childcare arrangements in place.'
Clare Haughey, the Rutherglen MSP, who has many constituents affected by the decision, says she has pressed the owners to bring in other care providers in an attempt to keep the nursery open.
'The owner has said that the decision is for 'personal reasons' but that does not alleviate the deep anxiety and stress that parents and nursery staff have experienced, especially when it looked like the closure was imminent and little information was available,' she said.'Crossbasket Nursery have advised me that they feel it is 'not appropriate' for an outside provider to take over the nursery, and that they are not seeking one themselves.
'I am really disappointed they have not taken a more proactive approach in this regard — leaving other providers, some of which have contacted me to advise they have spaces, and the council to pick up the pieces with families.'It is welcome news that the nursery will remain open until at least October, which will provide some degree of comfort to families still seeking alternative placements, but the news still comes as an unexpected and devastating blow to staff.'
Worried parents and carers have described the closure as a 'devastating blow'.
Accounts filed at Companies House show that Lochlane Investments Ltd — in which Mr S Timoney is the ultimate controlling party — made a 'management charge of £176,667 in 2024 and £265,000 in 2023 in relation to Crossbasket Nursery'.
Crossbasket Castle said in a statement: 'Due to serious health concerns, the owner of Crossbasket Nursery has been forced to step back from her role and, as a result, the nursery has entered into a consultation period on potential closure.
'We understand how potentially disruptive this could be for children, parents and staff and have undertaken to ensure that the nursery will remain open until at least October, to allow parents to make alternative arrangements.'
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