THOUGH work is well underway, having started some weeks ago, on converting a business unit of shops into a day-care nursey, permission for a change of use has been refused by Thurrock Council.

The units are at the junction of Corringham Road and Wharf Road in Stanford-le-Hope and used to contain several independent shops and a fitness centre.

The application for a change of uses states: "The proposal involves conversion of the existing two-storey business unit into a daycare nursery.

"The ground floor plan shows the replacement and alterations to the existing unit shop frontages within the site including the closure of several entrances within the units to the front and rear, to be replaced with fenestration. There would be a re-arrangement of internal partitions to form reception, play areas, staff facilities, and ancillary rooms, while the first-floor plan indicates additional playrooms and support functions.

"Other external alterations include creation of a walled garden/play area at the front facing Wharf Road.

"The wall would be 1.8ms in height and it would feature a 0.4m high trellis above, resulting in a boundary treatment of 2.2ms in overall height on the frontage.

"This garden/play area would be positioned across the frontages of units 5 and 7 Wharf Road. finally, a new entrance to the nursery would be created within the revised shop frontage of the site."

However, council officers have rejected the application and have detailed reasons in a report.

It says: "The proposed change of use to a day-care nursery, by virtue of the lack of lawful on-site parking, inadequate and unsafe pick-up/drop-off, servicing and delivery arrangements, and its location at the busy junction of Wharf Road, Corringham Road, and Church Hill, would be likely to result in vehicles parking on the highway and having a harmful impact on highway and pedestrian safety in the locality."

And adds a comment about the proposed boundary wall, saying: "It would appear overly dominant and incongruous within the existing street scene and front of the parade.

"The enclosed outdoor play area and boundary walling would be out of character with the immediate locality and neighbouring properties."

That conclusion has been endorsed by a number of nearby residents who opposed the application, saying the nursery would be a in a dangerous position and would jeopardise road safety and bring other parking concerns.