Thatcham nursery gets go-ahead to expand into next door

The regional manager of Audlen House Day Nursery, Audra Penny, said that she did not have a start day for the work to convert the property in Station Road, as she was in the process of getting quotes, but added: “We are very happy.”
Last March, the nursery applied to West Berkshire Council to extend its premises to provide space to care for an extra 12 children.
The plan was to convert the neighbouring empty property, a semi-detached house, and remove a sycamore tree to provide more parking spaces.
However, despite winning the backing of planner officers, members of the eastern area planning committee went against their recommendations and turned down the application in July.
Although they said that it had been a hard decision, they refused it because of the increase in noise for neighbours.
Appeal inspector Anthony Lyman agreed that the main issue was the effect of the extended nursery on neighbours with regard to potential noise disturbance, but added that planned use of the garden was for a quiet area.
He said: “In response, the appellants have confirmed that the garden to the appeal property would be used only as a quiet reading/story lawn and not as a general play area such as the garden to the existing nursery. Subject to a condition to secure a management plan for the use of this quiet area, I am satisfied that the use of the garden would not cause unacceptable levels of noise nuisance to neighbouring properties.
“The nursery would operate in the appeal property only during the day and the hours of use would be restricted by a condition to prevent it opening in the evening and at weekends.”
Subject to some conditions – including sealing shut the windows at the rear of the property, and not to allow the upstairs rooms to be used for the care of children – he approved the appeal.
The nursery capacity will increase from 46 places to 58.
Ward member and town and district councillor, Dominic Boeck (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham), who requested that the application went above the head of planning officers, said that as the decision had now been made at the highest point in the chain, they would have to respect the decision.
He said: “If there are any issues, then the residents will have the same access to a resolution that any of us do.”
It was not all good news for the nursery, though.
Its application for full costs of the appeal to be paid by the council was refused.
Costs can only be awarded against a party which has acted unnecessary or wasted expense in the appeal process.
Mr Lyman said that the behaviour in the refusal was reasonable.