FURIOUS neighbours are making their views known after plans were revealed for a nursery near their Annan homes.
Residents in Prestonfield Road, Millview Terrace and Fieldside have started a protest after they were notified of a planning application to convert 41a Prestonfield Road – which in the past had been an adult care home – into daycare centre for Sparklers Nursery.
The application states that nursery hours of business would be from 7.30 am – 6 pm, Monday to Friday.
It is proposed that nursery will have a capacity for a maximum of 52 children split into two age groups (32 3–5-year-olds and 20 2–3-year-olds).
Nine drop off/parking bays and one disabled parking spot are also planned in the application.
However, nearby neighbours are “horrified” by the proposals and they took the streets to object this week.
Laura Connor is one of them and has concerns about potential issues including noise, parking and safety.
Laura – who works night shifts at the hospital – said: “We’re going to have that landed right in the middle of us. There’s no getting away from that kind of noise or disruption. It’s going to be horrendous.
“One of our elderly neighbours said to myself that she’s nearly in tears and had bought the bungalow because it’s a quiet residential area and that it’s her retirement.
“Another neighbour’s house is attached to the proposed nursery and she’s really upset about it.
“The sheer volume of noise, the car parking and safety up the road where people will be dropping off and picking up at all times of the day. It’s going to be chaos.
“I’ve got to come home after a night shift and try and sleep with that potential noise.
“There’s an ambulance driver as well who lives nearby and has put in a complaint already. It’s going to be awful if this comes to fruition.”
Laura says she’ll continue to go door-to-door to nearby residents who might not be aware.
The issue will also be brought up at the town’s community council meeting at Newington Social Club on Monday night at 7pm.
Laura added: “We’re going to try and get a petition going too. We’re going to do as much as we can to stop this.
“We can’t believe it, it’s been very quiet but the traffic will quadruple and it is going to be horrendous.”