Nursery plan raises parking worries

An application for a children's day nursery at The Square, Sedgefield, was recently considered by the borough council's development control committee.

The need for nursery provision in the village has long been recognised.

The proposed nursery would cater for 36 children aged from six months to eight years old.

It would incorporate a breakfast club and after-school club, and a minibus would be used to transport some of the children.

But Durham County Council, the highways authority, has strongly objected to the proposal and borough council officers recommended the application be rejected.

A statement from the county council said: "The site does not have any parking provision off the highway and therefore all parking would occur on the roads around The Square.

"These roads are already used quite heavily for parking, and the nearby primary school attracts parents' cars at opening and closing periods."

Applicant John Owens told council members he had identified alternative car parking spaces in the town.

A letter from the landlady of the nearby Nag's Head pub said she would give permission for the nursery to use ten of her car parking spaces during the day.

Mr Owens, who is also proprietor of the Little Acorns Nursery, Newton Aycliffe, said parents would be advised to park in Rectory Road or a nearby hotel as part of the contract.

He said: "It is not in our interest to cause congestion for local residents or our customers, because if they can't find anywhere to park, they won't use the nursery."

A suggestion was made to give temporary planning permission for a year to monitor potential traffic problems, in line with another nursery in the town, but that proposal was rejected.

Councillors decided to visit the site to assess the situation before making a final decision.

Councillor Linda Byrne said: "There is a definite need for a nursery in Sedgefield. People are crying out for one and that's something for us to consider."