Ashton Upon Mersey nursery expansion gets approval despite residents’ opposition

An expanding nursery in Ashton Upon Mersey has been given the seal of approval by planning councillors despite local opposition. Residents near the Pear Tree Montessori Nursery on Park Avenue have complained of noisy toys and musical instruments in the garden and issues over parking and road safety.

Locals have also said the nursery had operated outside the scope of its existing planning permission on multiple occasions. The number of children attending the nursery has risen from 38 to 55 and a retrospective planning application allowing the nursery to operate throughout the entire house to operate on all floors of the detached house has been granted.

The permission also includes a detached outbuilding for use as an ancillary nursery and a cycle and pram store. Trafford’s Planning and Development Management Committee has granted retrospective planning permission for a change of use from a mix of residential and nursery to entirely a nursery.

Managing director of the nursery Danielle Hignett said the objections over noise related only to the two years of the pandemic. “The children were outside in the garden as a means to use social distancing as instructed by the Government and the Department of Health,” she said.

“We now have children and parents fully back in the building.” 

Danielle also said that 75 per cent of the parents who take their children to the nursery live within walking distance.

Councillors in disagreement

Councillor Ben Hartley stepped aside from his role as chair of the committee to speak in favour of the application as ward councillor for Ashton Upon Mersey, saying: “The building has been used as a day nursery since 2007.

“There are no grounds to refuse this on the basis of the impact on residential amenity through noise or traffic, and there is no significant impact on the highways.

“More people are working from home and are working less conventional hours. Drop-off and pick-up times are likely to be more staggered. There is also a current scheme for more walking to the nursery.”

However, councillor Shona Gilbert, who also represents Ashton Upon Mersey, spoke against the application. “Residents recognise that nurseries are important,” she said. “But there has been some questionable parking on that road.

“It puts pedestrians and children at risk. The increase in children will have a detrimental impact on the local residents.”