PLANS to convert a sports and social club into a new nursery and daycare centre have been approved by the council – despite more than a dozen objections to the plans.
The Cobcar Sports and Social Club, on Cobcar Street, Elsecar, is at the centre of plans for a 42-space nursery.
Internal reconfiguration of the existing building to provide classrooms, offices, and ancillary accommodation will now begin after planning bosses approved the application last week.
A report states: “The proposed scheme has been developed to reflect the character of the local area and has evolved from a detailed study of the existing site characteristics, materiality and surrounding context along Cobcar Street.
“A range of high quality materials have been utilised to complement the material palette of the existing property and are sympathetic to the surrounding context.
“It is intended that the local community will enjoy the positive impacts of the proposal, which will revitalise an existing building that is currently vacant and in need of redevelopment and will provide a much needed nursery and daycare centre that will help to support the local community of Elsecar.”
An application was submitted to the council in July last year and, following a public consultation, a number of residents and councillors objected to the plans.
The report added: “Councillors Tim Shepherd, Robin Franklin and Mick Stowe objected on traffic grounds, that this is the wrong place for a nursery, the street is a main bus route, request an on-site traffic inspection by highways, access to the building is up very steep steps, there is very limited off road parking as the previous tenants sold the car park and dropping off and picking up could be an issue as the street is narrow and busy because of on road parking.
“In response to re-consultation on the most recent amendments to the application, Coun Franklin confirmed that he again objects to the application on the grounds that there is insufficient room for parking; if there are up to three staff there is no room for parents dropping off children; there is a bus stop just outside the perimeter; attendees could park on the road but that will cause obstruction on a very busy road.
“Neighbour notification letters were sent to 24 surrounding properties, and a site notice was placed nearby.
“Thirteen representations were received from eight neighbours in response to the initial and subsequent notifications.”
Their concerns ranged from noise pollution, parking issues and highways safety.
Despite the objections, Barnsley Council’s planning board approved the plans earlier this month.
The report added: “The proposal seeks planning permission to change the use of former sports and social club to a nursery with capacity for 42 children.
“The proposal is considered acceptable in policy terms, being an alternative community use of a building previously in community use.
“The report demonstrates that any harm generated by the proposal does not outweigh the benefits and/or any other material planning considerations in favour of the proposal.”
