An application (19/01115/B) by the owners of Beehive Kindergarten, Hillberry Road, Onchan to remove a condition limiting its use has been rejected by the planning committee.

Beeline Nurseries Limited wanted to remove a planning condition from an application first submitted in 1988, which limited the number of children allowed to attend at any one time to 55.

The committee rejected the proposal following several comments from owners of nearby properties citing concerns over noise levels and parking, which according to letters from several residents has been an ongoing issue in the Birch Hill area.

A decision notice issued by planners said: ’The removal of a condition restricting the number of children on site, or any variation of the number allowed would be likely to adversely affect the living conditions of the adjacent occupiers with particular regard to noise and disturbance which would have an unacceptable impact on their amenity.

’The removal of a condition restricting the number of children on site, or any variation of the number allowed would be likely to result in additional off-site parking to the detriment of the amenity and safety of nearby residential properties.’

In its application, Beeline Nurseries highlighted a Tynwald report that stated there is a serious lack of provision for nursery and school age childcare in the island.

Beeline said: ’Approval of this application will permit the spare capacity of the Beehive to be utilised to contribute to meeting this identified national need shortfall whilst placing control with the appropriate authority, the Department of Health and Social Care registrations and inspections unit.’

It said this would bring the control on numbers in line with other Manx nurseries.