Nursery plans halted over Walsall parking worries

The 19th century Uplands House had been earmarked as a base for up to 45 children. But planners voiced concerns over parking and congestion along the main Lichfield Road and rejected the proposal, which would have created 10 jobs, again throwing the historic building's future in to uncertainty. The premises were previously used by the council for child and youth services.

The lease ended in March 2012 at which point the premises were vacated.

The proposals were put forward by Banana Moon Nursery Ltd and are intended to serve families living in and around The Butts area.

The application, which has been put forward by agent Joel Hancock, said: "The role and function of The Butts Centre is appropriate to the proposed catchment of the proposed nursery.

"The only vacant site within The Butts Centre is that of the former Mellish Road Methodist Church on the corner of Lichfield Street and Lichfield Road.

"However, this is a cleared site and it would not be financially viable for the nursery business to construct a new building when a vacant listed building lies very close by."

But council planning officers said the proposed day nursery failed to provide adequate on-site parking, drop off and manoeuvring space.

Head of planning David Elsworthy said: "The intensified use of the site would be likely to lead to a significant increase in the number of vehicle trips to the site over and above the present use.

"The width of the access does not allow for egressing and ingressing vehicles to pass simultaneously.

"As a consequence, the use would give rise to indiscriminate on-street parking and vehicle queuing on the A461 strategic highway to the detriment of the free flow of traffic on an already congested junction.

"The proposal would give rise to conditions prejudicial to highway safety."

He added the application site was located within an air quality management area and next to a busy highway. This would be affected by vehicles coming and going.

He added the application failed to demonstrate that occupiers would not be subject to unacceptable levels of air pollution.

It comes after plans to transform a historic former working men's club in Walsall into a nursery stalled after the initial plans were withdrawn.

Chuckery Working Men's Club, in Lincoln Road, once popular with staff from the Chamberlin & Hill foundry, was put up for sale two years ago after going into liquidation.