New 76-place nursery on ‘dangerous’ Coalville road approved
A new 76-place nursery for Coalville has been approved despite fears it is on a “dangerous” road[1]. The new Hunny Nurseries will cater to the nursery place “shortfall” in the area according to developers, but many concerns about its placement have been voiced.
The nursery will be sited on playing fields next to Broom Leys Primary School in Coalville’s[2] Broom Leys Road and Greenhill Road. Proposed by Kibworth Beauchamp-based nursery provider Hunny Nurseries, it will provide 76 places for children aged between newborn and four years old.
YMD Boon, on behalf of the nursery, claimed the new facility would “address the shortfall” in Coalville’s nursery places and create up to 15 jobs too[3]. However, some residents believe that the nursery is not in a safe place due to cars parking in the way.
One objector said many vehicles, including buses were now “struggling” to stick to the road because of “parked cars” on Greenhill Road, adding that it was now also “common” for drivers to park on zig-zag markings, making the current situation “too dangerous” for pedestrians in the area.
Concerns were also voiced about the increase in parking on pavements, adding to dangers for pedestrians of all ages, including schoolchildren. Some residents said during school pick-up time they now have to “walk in the roadway” due to parked cars and fear the situation would get worse with the new nursery.
However, Hunny Nurseries disputed the increase, saying the nursery’s new intake would “have an association” with Broom Leys Primary School, with many pupils “likely” to have siblings at the school. YMD Boon said: “This means that there will not be a significant increase in additional vehicles dropping off at the site and minimal increase to congestion.”
The applicant also insisted that drop off and pick up times would be “staggered throughout the day” to limit any potential disruption[5]. YMD Boon claimed the opening hours of 7.30pm to 6pm also meant it would “not necessarily increase traffic” at peak times.
The new nursery will be based next to Brooms Leys Primary School and have 12 parking spaces (Image: YMD Boon)
Meanwhile, planning documents reveal the new Hunny Nurseries will be a single storey building with separate play spaces for 0-2 years, 2-3 years and 3-4 years as well as an outdoor astro turf play area. A kitchen, staff facilities and toilets will also be built.
The new building, described as “modular” in design, will also come with a 12-space car park, with a single access point off Greenhill Road. The applicant acknowledged that there would be less spaces than the maximum of 15 staff set to be employed, but believed more than half of staff would live locally and “walk or cycle to work”.
Despite concerns about safety, Leicestershire County Council’s highways teams did not voice worries about traffic impacts. Officials at North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC)[6] also believed the nursery would be of benefit to the area.
In a report, NWLDC said the plan would result in a “minor encroachment” of Broom Leys Primary School’s playing field, but that it was an “acceptable” plan. The authority added: “The proposal is not considered to have any significant detrimental design, residential amenity, highway, ecological or flood risk impacts.”
References
- ^ “dangerous” road (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Coalville’s (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ create up to 15 jobs too (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ £1 million Kegworth transformation plan will 'help make village thrive' (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ limit any potential disruption (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)