ELDERLY residents are against plans for a children's nursery to be built next to a health club and spa near Mobberley.

The proposal would see the demolition of an existing office building on Faulkner's Lane in Great Warford, and the erection of a new facility, providing day care for up to 32 children as well as 13 car parking spaces.

The children's nursery would be open between 7am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday and create jobs for eight full time nursery nurses as well as a manager and a cook.

Cheshire Health Club and Spa's plans for the site and a subsequent appeal to a planning inspector were rejected last year but the new application claims to address the previous comments made by the inspector.

The plans, which now highlight a "significantly reduced size building", state: "The overall objective of the proposal is to create nursery places to accommodate the growing demand for places for local children within the village of Mobberley and the surrounding areas, providing flexible childcare for 0 to four-year-olds.

"Whilst the development would introduce a new use to the site, the proposed day nursery would not cause any significant levels of traffic or noise disturbance for the existing residents of Warford Park."

Great Warford Parish Council has no objections or comments to make about the current application but residents have voiced concerns over potential noise levels from the nursery and its outdoor play area and also with regard to the safety of pedestrians, with an increase in the number of cars using the existing residents' car park.

One resident of Faulkners Lane, Valerie Gallon, said: "We have had, for some time, major issues with traffic speeding.

"Any increase in traffic is unwelcome and the noise issue, as vehicles speed over bumps in the road, is unpleasant, particularly early in a morning."

Another resident, who lives on The Beeches, said: "Warford Park was initially built as a retirement facility and it is appreciated that, since then, it has expanded with non-retirement additions.

"I am sure that when Warford Park was first developed, the presence of a nursery was never envisaged.

"It is totally out of keeping with a prestigious gated residential development in a green belt area and further commercial expansion has to be curtailed."

The last date for comments to be submitted in relation to this planning application is Wednesday, February 10 with a decision expected by Wednesday, March 11.