CONTROVERSIAL plans to set up a children's nursery near a busy main road looked set to be given the go-ahead despite mass objections and a petition.

Residents living near the site in Spendmore Lane, Coppull, have sent 52 letters to the council complaining about the plan, and also raised a 71-name petition against it.

The applicants, Earlybirds Private Day Nursery Ltd, have stated that they will have a maximum occupancy of 46 children at the nursery in the interests of neighbour amenity and highway safety.

But residents say it will create traffic chaos during the rush hour as parents all drop their children off around the same time, and they fear for the safety of other children walking to school.

Mary-Ellen Flanagan, 93, who lives in Arcon Road, said: "It is worrying because Spendmore Lane is already so busy, cars fly up and down at all kinds of wild speeds.

"I am concerned for the safety of children, it only takes a spilt-second for a young child to step into the road and a serious accident could occur."

Her concerns, and others raised by her neighbours about parking, noise levels, loss of custom and property devaluation, have been taken up by Coppull Parish Council which has opposed plans.

Some councillors are also worried about what they describe as a "hazardous" entrance at the nursery, which is just off a main road and which, they claim, has nowhere for children to be dropped off safely.

Ken Ball, a Coppull parish councillor and Lib Dem leader on Chorley Borough Council, said: "We had about 24 people turn up to the last parish council meeting who all voiced their concerns about it. This is a lot of people who all had genuine concerns about what would happen if this nursery was to be established.

"It is up to us to take on the residents' opinions and try and do our best to put their views across by checking it out for ourselves. We agreed with the residents and put forward our own objections.

But Alan Croston, Chorley Borough Council's head of planning services, has recommended the development control committee -- which was due to meet yesterday evening (Wed) -- allows the plan.

He said in a report to the committee: "The site is well related to surrounding uses and the use would not cause harm to the residential properties to the rear of the site."

Earlybirds have now submitted amended plans to previous proposals for consideration.

Mr Croston added: "The amended scheme would not give rise to any highway safety problems, the proposal is therefore acceptable and complies with policies within both the Adopted and Review Local Plans.

"Issues of competition between businesses and affects upon values of houses are not material planning considerations."

Earlybirds were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press despite repeated attempts to contact them.