RESIDENTS opposed to a day care centre for children have lost their battle to stop it from expanding.

Debbie Hutler can now grow the numbers using Blackberries in The Causeway, March, following approval by Fenland District Council Planning Committee.

Councillors were asked to remove a condition attached to the 2008 approval which had limited numbers to 16.

“Expansion of the nursery would provide additional places that are needed according to the childcare sufficiency coordinator for Fenland,” said a report by planning officers. “The removal of this condition would also increase the viability of the nursery to continue to operate successfully.”

Removing the condition allows for eight extra places and officers concluded that any noise and disturbance would be minimal.

“The removal of this condition is not felt to cause detriment to the amenity of adjoining properties or highway safety,” noted the report.

Councillors were also told that increasing numbers attending would also increase to 5-6 from 3-5 the number of staff working there.

Nine objections were put to the committee by residents nearby who complained about noise, parking, highway safety risks, and the fact “it is a residential area and not a place for a nursery.”

However county highway officials said the extra traffic could be accommodated in the short stay on street parking available for dropping off and collection of children.

Various site visits were made and “although busy did not pose a risk as vehicles were parked in the marked bays and did not interrupt the free flow of traffic. At all other times the traffic at the site appeared to be minimal.”