A NURSERY owner has won a planning appeal - allowing it to open its doors to more children.

Warrington Borough Council had turned down the extension at Heathfield House Day Nursery saying it would affect highway safety on Delenty Drive in Birchwood.

But the owners appealed and a Government planning inspector agreed, saying the single storey extension can be built and numbers could rise from 44 at present to 56.

The inspector said any extra cars using the building would be in small numbers and would have a limited impact.

And the inspector added that complaints about extra noise would not be enough to block the plans as it would have a minor impact.

The report added: “I have been provided with no substantive evidence of any existing problems resulting from traffic reversing out of the site or causing conflicts with pedestrians, and have no reason to suppose that the limited amount of additional vehicles movements or proposed changes to the layout of the car park would result in any particular difficulties.”

When the application was turned down in November, council leader and Birchwood ward councillor Russ Bowden spoke against the scheme.

He highlighted the planning history associated to the site and told members it could be argued that it is ‘increasing development by stealth’.

The politician also said residents have ‘put up with enough’ already.

He added: “What we have here is an application which seeks to use existing space with no additional provision, no extension, to try and increase the number of children there.

“That clearly has an impact on residential amenity.”