Concerns over noisy children scupper new nursery

Plans for a nursery in Chigwell were refused because of noise and parking concerns

Plans for a new nursery have been refused after residents raised concerns about the noise from children.

The proposals for a day nursery for 60 children in an empty property on High Road in Chigwell, Essex were turned down due to potential impact of noise, a lack of parking and an increase in traffic.

The nursery planned to allow outdoor play between 09:00 and 18:00.

Epping Forest District Council received hundreds of objections to the scheme and the planning committee decided the impact on neighbours could not be justified.

Planners turned down the application for a day nursery on High Road in Chigwell

Cindy Lessing, one of 459 residents to formally object to the plans, said: “Noise generated by 40 young children in an open area is far more intrusive, impacting severely on the lives of all the nursery’s neighbours.”

She added there were also concern about the impact of traffic and the danger it posed to children as parents attempted to negotiate in and out.

Tania Tindale, agent for the application, said the highways authority was satisfied that the proposal would not be detrimental to highway safety and added: “There are a number of day nurseries that operate successfully on busy roads with very limited parking.”

Despite a lack of objection from Essex highways, the council said three parking spaces was insufficient and cited this as the reason for refusal.