U-turn fury over danger nursery

WORRY: Karen Turner (front left) and her letter of objection with other local residents and councillors outside the former Den Lane garage

Furious residents have called planning permission given after two previous refusals is an “accident waiting to happen”.

Springhead householders and ward councillors are up in arms after the plans — previously turned down by Oldham Council — were approved by a planning inspector on appeal.

The application, for a 30-space children’s day nursery at the site of the former Den Lane garage, Springhead, was refused last March due to lack of adequate drop-off and collect facilities.

A previous application was refused on highway-safety grounds in September 2010.

But following an appeal by the applicant, the Bristol-based planning inspectorate has reversed the decision.

Karen Turner, from neighbouring Peels Avenue, said: “Myself and another five residents sent a letter to the planning inspectorate stating our objections.

“These included lack of adequate picking-up and dropping-off facilities, the site being too small for development, noise and lack of privacy. It was refused on road-safety issues, so to see it approved has left us extremely shocked.

“We’ve got enough nurseries around and we don’t need another.”

Planning Inspector Mel Middleton visited the site a month ago.

He felt the planned two space layout could cope with demand morning and evening, with extra cars able to park in nearby Peels Avenue.

The inspector said Den Lane traffic speeds were low and there had been no reported accidents near the site over the past five years.

But Mrs Turner said: “We’ve objected from the very first application, but I don’t think we’ve been listened to at all by the planning inspector.”

Councillor Valerie Sedgwick, Saddleworth West and Lees, said: “To me, there has been no common sense used in making this decision.

“There are no footpaths in Den Lane but four schools are nearby, so parents and children walk up and down it.

“Where the Planning Inspectorate are coming from, I don’t know. I definitely think they’ve got it wrong this time.”