News

Farnborough nursery expansion plans thrown out

By Tim Harris
December 13, 2012

PLANS for the expansion of a nursery in Farnborough have been thrown out because of the impact it would have on the surrounding area.

Farnborough Sixth Form College had applied to set up a second children’s nursery near to the college, which would have been an expansion of its current Pebbles Day Nursery.

The Prospect Avenue college wanted to change the use of a bungalow, which it already owns, to become a nursery which could accommodate 30 children.

However, Rushmoor Borough Council’s planning committee binned the application on Thursday 6 for an array of reasons.

These included the impact it would have on traffic in the surrounding roads – a concern widely voiced by people in the area.

The decision report said there was a lack of details about the likely number of staff numbers, the location and number of parking spaces and information about dropping-off/picking up of children.

“It has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that the proposals would not give rise to conditions prejudicial to the safety and convenience of highway users.”

The committee also rejected the application on the grounds of a ‘harmful impact’ on the amenities of the neighbouring home, the loss of residential accommodation, and the failure to provide transport contribution.

The News & Mail recently reported how residents who live near Farnborough Sixth Form College claimed they already have their ‘quality of life’ affected by traffic issues in the area.

Nicola Sills, of Sand Hill, prior to the refusal commented: “I think it would cause real disruption for people in the area, especially in Prospect Avenue.

“We have got enough issues with the college without this as well. When anybody stops at the college it all backs up.”

Another resident, Ray O'Toole, also commented on the plans, saying: “Anything that is going to increase the traffic related to the sixth form college is a concern. It is bad enough as it is.

“Prospect Avenue does not have any space. People just park anywhere. I think the nursery would cause more of a problem.”

Hampshire County Council is aware of the road issues around the college. Before the application was decided, Gordon Dodds, deputy principal for finance and admin at Farnborough Sixth Form College, had insisted parents would have dropped their children off inside the college grounds for the nursery.

The bungalow they wanted to convert into a nursery used to be a caretaker’s house. Mr Dodds had suggested another other option could be to let it out to college staff.

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