Day nursery plan thrown out

PLANNING bosses at Warrington have thrown out an application by a children’s day nursery for permission to increase the number of places by just six.
Members of the borough council’s planning sub-committee refused the application by Heathfield House Day Nursery in Delenty Drive, Birchwood after hearing strenuous objections from Birchwood Town Council.
The Town Council argued that the applicant was seeking to increase the capacity of the nursery by steady increments – something members found “totally unacceptable.”
They claimed the application could set a precedent for other similar businesses.
“When you consider the nursery originally had in the region of 16 children, it is currently at double the capacity it was,” they said.
The planning sub-committee was asked to consider two applications from the nursery – an increase in the number of places from 32 to 38 and construction of a covered walkway linking the main building with an outbuilding at the rear, which would be used as a kitchen.
Planning officers recommended both be approved – but the committee accepted only the covered walkway.
Members heard an application to increase the number of children to 50 was refused in 2007.
They were told a similar application at another nursery, next door-but-one, to increase their number of places from 32 to 39, was refused. It later went to appeal but was again dismissed.
The Town Council in a submission to the sub-committee added: “Members are concerned about the increased noise that the local residents will have to endure.
“We have been informed that already the noise level is unacceptable. Some residents work from home while others work shifts and need to sleep during the day.
“They are in the unenviable position where they do not open windows and doors nor sit out in the garden during the warmer months.
“Although residents have made allowances to lie with the current situation they believe ‘enough is enough’ and any further increase in capacity would have a detrimental effect on their quality of life.”
The Town Council also expressed fears about increased traffic, parking problems and dangerous manoeuvring.