One of the Island's major insurance companies is moving ahead with plans for a day care centre for employees' children.

ACE Insurance Ltd. on Tuesday began advertising for a nursery school teacher.

The company plans to lease the nearby Woodbourne Guest House, on Woodbourne Avenue for 15 to 20 children under primary school age.

A total of four teachers and an administrator are expected to be hired to work in the centre which will remain open year round from 8.15 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Mondays through Fridays.

ACE senior vice president of administration Keith White told The Royal Gazette : "We find that if we can take care of this (day care) problem for some of our people, they can take care of their work. It gives us greater flexibility.

"People talk about how wonderful it will be for the mothers. But we also have some males and, even in some cases grandparents, who are responsible for youngsters.'' Mr. White said while he hoped that ACE would set an example for other employers in Bermuda, he realised that only fairly large companies could afford to offer such facilities.

"We're trying to do it for something that will be lower than market cost,'' he said. "Also we want it to be of high quality. We're working with the Health Department and Child Development Project to make sure we hire qualified people to work there.'' ACE is still awaiting approval from the Planning Department for its plans.

Owners of Oxford Guest House, which is on the same road, have objected to the development, claiming it may cause noise, traffic congestion, and endanger children as there was no walkway for parents taking their children to the centre.

Responding to those objections, Mr. White said: "We felt that it would only be a few children out in the yard at a time so noise should not be a problem.

"And we have stipulated that everyone will drive to the ACE building and walk their children up to the area. I believe we have responded to the concerns of our neighbours as best as we could.'' But if the current site is turned down, Mr. White stressed that ACE will not abandon its plan for day care.

"We have so many parents who are looking forward to it,'' he added.