Nursery given green light by four councillors despite fears

CONCERNS OVER NOISE, TRAFFIC AND PARKING AT CAMBERLEY CARE HOME SITE DISMISSED

- By CHRIS CAULFIELD Local democracy reporter

"LUDICROUS" plans to create an 88-place nursery with 22 staff and only four car parking spaces were approved despite noise and traffic fears - after just four of 11 councillors voted for it.

Bright Horizons' plan to replace a care home for 10 people in Gordon Avenue, Camberley, with a nursery was reported to the planning committee by Councillor Lisa Finan-Cooke as residents' fears began to pile up.

Most notable was that the lack of parking would create gridlock on the small roads leading up to the site as parents fought over the limited spaces, the meeting heard.

Others were concerned about the change in character from a sleepy residential home into a loud nursery where the sound of children "screaming" in the playground was likened to a jet engine.

The plans were approved, by the narrowest possible margin, as members at Surrey Heath Borough Council's Thursday, June 5 planning committee were told that the authority's environmental health officer raised no objections and felt any noise would have a "negligible impact".

The borough council officer's ruling effectively tied the committee's hands when it came to rejecting the plan as it would have been unable to defend its decision against any future challenges, the meeting heard. The nursery would also address a need for such facilities in the area.