At a meeting of Adur District Council's development control committee on Monday night, councillors approved an application to convert 418 Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham, into a nursery.

The nursery will cater for children aged from six months to five years old and will hire 28 staff.

Councillor Janet Mockridge, sitting on the committee, said: "There is a need for very young children's nursery provision to allow working parents to go to work.

"I can't see that it's going to cause any nuisance to the surrounding neighbours."

Competition

The council received 24 letters supporting the plans for the new nursery in the 11 bedroom property.

Reasons for supporting the plans included the need for nurseries in the area and need for competition and local employment.

One mother wrote: "I cannot find a suitable nursery for my daughter in Southwick or Shoreham.

"My daughter currently goes to Tinysaurus nursery in Hove.

"With the opening of their second nursery more children will be able to benefit from their exceptional care."

Harassed

Not everyone, however, supported the new nursery.

The council received 11 objections based on increased noise from children and traffic and the impact on local pre-schools.

One objector wrote: "I know of at least one very long-established nursery which is seriously concerned about its future if yet another childcare facility is given permission to operate in Shoreham."

Another wrote: "I wonder who in their right mind will give the go-ahead to a nursery on a very busy main road.

"All it takes is a harassed mother/father in the morning with a nappy/lunch bag in one hand and a child in the other to let go for one second and there could be one very, very nasty accident."

Acoustic fencing

Plans for the nursery include five nursery rooms, two teaching rooms, a kitchen, dining room, staff office and toilets on the ground and first floors along with cycle parking and a pushchair store.

A one-bedroom staff flat will be built on the second floor.

Acoustic fencing will be erected in the garden to help stop neighbours being disturbed by noise.

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