A CONTROVERSIAL proposal for the construction of a new purpose-built nursery/child care facility within the grounds of Eggar’s School in London Road, Alton, is to be the subject of an appeal.

The application by Tootsies Day Nursery Ltd for a single-storey building for use as a pre-school, plus associated parking, was turned down by East Hampshire planners in October because the applicant had failed to demonstrate that the open space to be lost as a result of the proposed development was surplus to requirement by Eggar’s School, nor that it would be replaced by equivalent provision.

The proposal would, planners felt, result in the “unjustified loss of a playing field, which would undermine the successful provision of adequate recreation areas in the locality” contrary to local planning policy.

Furthermore, it was “not considered that the benefits of the proposal in relation to the provision of additional child care facilities would outweigh this harm”.

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) had received more than 60 comments from the public on the application, at least three quarters of them objecting on grounds of wrong location, increased traffic, a risk of increased localised flooding due to surface water run-off, and irreparable loss of open space at a time when Alton is growing in size but has just lost the nearby Coors sports ground to development.

By contrast, those supporting the application cited the need for additional pre-school/nursery provision at this end of town and Alton’s current lack of childcare options.

Supporters pointed out also that the area of playing field proposed for the childcare-related development is not in active use and that car movements would occur mainly before and after working hours.

Alton Town Council had objected to the application on grounds that inadequate on-site car parking provision would be likely to “exacerbate traffic and encourage the parking/queuing of vehicles on the public highway, which would interrupt the free flow of traffic to the detriment of highway safety”.

There was concern too over the loss of playing fields, inadequate drainage provision, and potential additional noise and its impact on neighbours.

Sport England had registered its objection over the loss of playing field provision, and EHDC environmental officers had expressed concern that the proposal would increase water run-off – a situation that would need to be controlled on site so as not to increase flood risk elsewhere.

Hampshire Highways felt that the applicant’s transport statement had demonstrated that the local road network could accommodate the estimated vehicle movements associated with the proposed pre-school/nursery unit without severe impact, since the operation times would be 7.30am to 7.30pm and staggered.

Hampshire County Council suggested the levy of a transport contribution to support improvements to the Anstey Road/Anstey Lane junction, to include traffic calming, pedestrian facilities and parking control.

The Government planning inspectorate appeal into the district council’s refusal to grant permission for the new nursery is to be determined by written representation.

Letters should be sent to The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN, quoting the relevant reference APP/M1710/W/15/3138573 to arrive no later than December 29.