It will be a devastating blow if the Oxford Nursery is forced to close -- devastating for the 83 children and their families, and for the 17 workers who would lose their jobs.

Yet it is difficult to criticise Oxford Community School for not renewing the nursery's lease.

When the nursery opened in 1998, the school had 406 pupils. Now it has 1,150 and needs the space for its own classes.

The only alternative premises nursery managers have been able to find is on a trading estate.

But city planning officers point out it is against council policy to allow warehouse space to be used for anything other than industry. They also say there could be parking, public transport and pollution problems.

Of course, potential hazards should be fully investigated, but councillors should not put themselves in a straitjacket over the issue.

If jobs and the welfare of dozens of children are involved, that should be the priority.

Why not let the nursery on to the trading estate temporarily while the search for another site continues?

Better to keep a thriving nursery alive than to let it die.