Nursery campaigners celebrate
A West Lothian children’s nursery will stay open despite neighbours’ objections, after it was finally granted longterm approval by councillors after operating for more than a decade.
Parents and children packed into the council chambers in Livingston to hear the decision to grant full planning permission more than a year after Riverside Cottage Nursery in Blackburn was given temporary planning permission.
The nursery claimed failure to win planning permission would have forced it to close.
Despite operating for the last 14 years, the nursery, which sits at the end of a cul de sac called Riverside Lea near Blackburn, has only ever had temporary planning permission for a total of five years on three different occasions.
Throughout that time there have been disputes with neighbours over access to the nursery by parents along a single track road.
The nursery was given its most recent temporary consent in 2022 on condition it cut the numbers of children attending and set up a traffic management plan.
Appearing before the Development Management Committee in Livingston last week, the nursery’s owner and supporters argued they had complied with conditions.
But many neighbours said nothing had changed.
One spoke to the packed meeting telling councillors there were “significant problems” with the numbers of cars using the narrow road.
Another neighbour stressed that he had no wish to see the nursery closed, only to have numbers limited.
However, the divide between the nursery and some neighbours remained as resolute as the last time both had pleaded their case to councillors in 2022.
Planning officers recommended granting full planning permission with conditions attached limiting the numbers of children to no more than 25, and restricting opening hours to 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday only.
At one time as many as 35 children attended.
Parents and staff lined up to pay tribute to the work of the nursery and its unique location in the heart of the countryside. Many more had crammed into the public gallery of the Civic Centre chambers after attending a demonstration outside the building.
A spokesperson for the nursery said: “From all the staff, we cannot thank our little Riversiders and their families enough for the support they have given us through this stressful time.
“We are so thankful we can continue to give children the opportunity to experience Riverside.
“To current/past families, current/ previous staff and to everyone who truly appreciates the work we do, knows how great our nursery and environment is. Thank you!”