Plans to merge two nurseries have been shelved following opposition from parents, governors and councillors.

On Tuesday last week The Argus revealed that Brighton and Hove City Council was looking into a possible merger of the 30-year-old Royal Spa Nursery School in Park Hill, Queen's Park, Brighton, with the nursery at Queen's Park Primary School by September 2008.

But an email from director of education David Hawker, seen by The Argus, reads: "At present, the Royal Spa Nursery governors have rejected the idea of a merger and the local ward councillors have stated that they will not support a merger which does not have the support of both governing bodies.

"So we will not be taking the idea any further at this stage."

The merger would have meant the Royal Spa Nursery School losing its board of governors and coming under the control of Queen's Park Primary School.

Thirty places would have been lost by transferring 20 from temporary buildings at Queen's Park Primary to the site at Royal Spa, where the number would increase from 80 to 100.

The council has yet to confirm officially whether the plans have been dropped.

Peter Osbourne, a parent governor at Royal Spa, said: "We currently welcome this news but neither the school's headteacher nor the governors have received any official confirmation from the council that the merger will not go ahead."

Simon Burgess, Ken Bodfish and Delia Forester, who represent the Queen's Park ward on the council, vowed to support local opinion on the merger when it was announced last week.

Coun Bill Randall said: "It would make no sense at all to change anything at the Spa. It is a high achieving and highly appreciated school for younger children with a wonderful reputation. It is a jewel in the crown for the city.

"The council would be daft to try and change anything but I suspect it is all about money.

"I would be delighted if the merger did not go ahead, it is all part of this culture of reorganisation and centralisation by Labour. I would urge the council to leave it alone."

Coun Burgess, the leader of the council, said: "I have seen this email but I too haven't heard anything more definite. It is good news but it was certainly a long way from both sets of governors signing up to this."

"There isn't the universal support that is needed at this time."

The council was unavailable for comment.

A campaign to save the nursery school has been launched by parents and governors angry at the plans and can be visited at www.saveroyalspaandnurseryschool.org.uk