Part of the city’s plan that will bring a much-needed, 29,000 square-foot, $13-million community centre to lower Stoney Creek also includes demolishing Scout Hall, which houses these programs.

Scout Hall is at 37 King St. W. in front of Stoney Creek Arena, which is next to the site of the new centre. Scout Hall was built in 1969 and the city pegs its capital renewal costs at $17,000 and its 24-year renewal costs at more than $182,000.

Frances Sutton, program supervisor at the Chestnut Tree, said she received a call last week saying the city would no longer be able to accommodate the school.

Chestnut Tree has been at Scout Hall for 14 years and cares for between 30 and 70 children each year between the ages of two-and-a-half and five.

“We knew it was coming. But not speaking as someone from the school, but as a member of the community, what bothers me is they are already at the design process when they haven’t really talked to anyone in the community,” she said.

While Chris Herstek, the city’s manager of facilities and capital planning for the city’s recreation division, would not comment specifically about Scout Hall, public consultation was completed over the past two years, including a telephone survey, a mail survey of sports organizations and community partners, focus groups and a public meeting in lower Stoney Creek in November 2007.

Sutton says the director of the preschool board will meet with the city to discuss the situation.