Celebrations as nursery told no’

NEIGHBOURS of a proposed day nursery in March were celebrating this week after a Government inspector ruled the premises were both a highways and a noise nuisance.

Jill Palmer, a neighbour of the proposed nursery in The Causeway, said: "We have fought tirelessly to stop the planning applications being approved.

"We would like to thank our neighbours, who make this a warm and friendly community to live in, for all their help and support."

Her friend Jacky Murphy, who helped organise a petition against the day care centre, said the proposal by Deborah Hutler could have posed a major safety threat to the community.

Mrs Palmer said the claim by Mrs Hutler in the Cambs Times last week that it was a "tragedy" the appeal had been rejected, told only part of the story.

"It would have been a tragedy had Mrs Hutler achieved her goal of turning 12 The Causeway into a children's day nursery for 20-42 children," said Mrs Palmer.

"Fenland Council rejected her application twice, and now the Appeals Inspectorate has rejected it.

It was rejected on the grounds of a serious reduction in highway safety, noise and disturbance to adjoining and neighbouring residents."

She said neighbours opposed to the application also refuted the claim by Mrs Hutler there was no insufficient child care in March.

"This is totally unacceptable," said Mrs Murphy.

"March offers excellent child care facilities, all of which have vacancies.

"We need to support our local established child minders and day nurseries, which understand the care and needs of young children."

Although permission for a nursery was turned down, Mrs Hutler is allowed to run a child minding service from the house from 7am to 7pm.

"The fact Mrs Hutler continues to run her child-minding service, despite knowing the traffic safety issues for the children and the constant disturbance to the residents, this is the tragedy," said Mrs Murphy.

"Business should not come before the safety and quality of life of March residents.