PLANS for a new nursery in Newton Aycliffe have been thrown out to preserve the town's open space.

John Newbould, owner of the House of Eden nursery in nearby Rushyford, wanted to build a 106-place nursery and had secured a £450,000 grant to do so.

Sedgefield Borough Council rejected the plan because the proposed site forms part of the town's butterfly meadow.

Mr Newbould's appeal against the refusal was heard by inspector David Metcalfe, but he also ruled against the nursery.

In his report, Mr Metcalfe said the site exudes a pleasant and open parkland feeling and considers that the nursery building would be a most intrusive and alien element.

He also said that the proposed nursery was poorly located to serve the residential areas in that part of town and would increase car usage, further harming the open space.

Mr Metcalfe said there was also no formal road crossing to the proposed nursery.

He said people walking there would take a responsible attitude and this would not justify turning the proposal down on its own, but it did add weight to his decision.

Council planning officers said the inspector's decision justified its policy of maintaining open space.