A Cwmbran nursery has been refused planning permission to increase the number of children it can look after from 42 to 62.
Little Darlings nursery wanted to grow because of an increased demand on its service from parents with more homes being built in the town.
The site is on the junction of Oakfied Road and Llantarnam Road. The application received 44 letters- 30 objections, 12 in support and two were neutral.
But the application was turned down because of the extra cars that would visit the site each day.
Councillor Alan Slade, Llantarnam Ward, wrote: “I would agree with residents that the parking situation at this location is insufficient to sustain an increase in child (and presumably) staff numbers. The owner / manager of the premises has shown little or no enthusiasm to address the concerns of residents that staff are parking in the public car park across the road rather than on site where there are vacant spaces.
“As a result of this, on-street parking has increased significantly and residents are forced to use the public car park which in turn leaves little or no space for visitors to Oakfield Flower Gardens for which the car park was presumably intended.
“The increase in on-street parking situation on Oakfield Road has also resulted in the road becoming more dangerous as there is often little space for two vehicles to pass each other safely. This is compounded by the road being a bus route and used by heavy goods vehicles. There is also a history of speeding on Oakfield Road particularly in the direction toward Llantarnam Road. I therefore cannot support the proposal. I further believe that this application should go before the planning committee for determination where these issues can be properly debated.”
“Unacceptable increase in traffic”
The decision letter from Richard Lewis, the council’s head of planning and development, said: “In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the development would generate an unacceptable increase in traffic movements and demand for on-street parking in an area which has restricted highway capacity. The proposal will lead to indiscriminate parking and congestion, close to a busy road junction, and will therefore have a detrimental impact on highway safety and the amenity of neighbouring residential properties.”