Orkney Islands Council has issued a statement following the announcement that Peedie Breeks Nursery at Papdale will be closing. 

Peedie Breeks Nursery at the former Papdale Halls of Residence offers day nursery provision all year round, Monday to Friday for up to 48 children from 4 months. The Nursery has been under threat since the announcement that the former Halls of Residence was to be demolished.  The demolition is estimated to cost £2.5million and to be completed by 2022.  Old Papdale Hall of Residence To Be Demolished.

OIC Statement

We have been advised today that the owners of Peedie Breeks will be closing the doors on the service in July next year. This is a long established and valued service in Kirkwall and this decision will impact on a number of families.

The privately-owned nursery provider has been a tenant within the former Papdale Halls of Residence building for over twenty years. Although the new Halls of Residence opened in October 2013, Peedie Breeks was able to remain in the old building through a series of lease extensions to enable the business to find or build alternative premises, with support offered from our Estates team and other colleagues.

Ahead of the closure in July 2020, we will be looking to ensure that the 2,3 and 4-years olds, who might have enrolled at Peedie Breeks next year, can access their entitlement to free early learning and childcare elsewhere in Orkney.  We will also be exploring what role we and our community planning partners might have in securing a wider service provision for parents looking for day-care of very young children, early learning and childcare, or out of school care in Kirkwall.

Former Papdale Halls of Residence in Kirkwall