PLANS have been submitted to turn the former Salvation Army Hall on Corringham Road in Stanford-le-Hope into a children's nursery - which could bring a solution to a longrunning dispute in another part of the town.

After many years of serving the local community, the Stanford branch was linked with Wickford in May this year and the hall was shut.

An application has now been made to Thurrock Council's planning department by Mrs Victoria Jarosz who runs Rose Buddies Childcare Ltd.

Mrs Jarosz has been at the centre of local controversy and in dispute with neighbours over the childcare service she currently operated from her home on Branksome Avenue on the Homesteads estate.

Vikki Jarosz's home on Branksome avenue which currently houses her childcare business.

She has long wanted to expand the business but has been denied planning permission by the council and lost an appeal to the planning inspectorate. In the wake of that, she told Nub News in May that she would search for commercial premises. That search has led her to the now disused hall.

In her application to the council Mrs Jarosz says: "I would like to move my existing childcare business to a commercial premises.

"We provide childcare for working parents with children ages 0 to 11 (older children before and after school and school holidays).

"There are currently three members of staff full time with hours varying between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday. We would all move to the new premises to continue working together.

"I am currently registered as a childminder with two assistants but would register as a nursery due to being on a commercial premises. The children all attend different hours so arrive and leave at different times.

"The most we have arriving at once is three children and the same when they are leaving. The first one arrives at 7am and the last one currently leaves at 6.30pm.

"We are an established childcare provider and trying to move the business to what the council deem to be a more suitable premises.

"The hall is currently a Salvation Army church but has recently closed down. They have agreed to sell to me to use as a nursery and understand that I am applying for planning permission for change of use."

The full application and opportunity to comment can be found via this link.