CHILDREN at a Silsden nursery will have to be separated from their younger siblings once they start school after the business was refused permission to expand.

Dradishaw House Day Nursery had planned to build an extension to accommodate an after-school club.

The facility would allow over-fives to remain with the nursery and remove the necessity of parents having to collect siblings from different care providers.

Elizabeth Briggs, owner of the nursery on Dradishaw Road, said there was a great need for such a facility in Silsden and she had been struggling for months to find a suitable place.

She told the Herald: "We have looked at other places in Silsden and have tried Hothfield and Aire View schools, and all the church halls, but there was nowhere suitable.

"The nursery was the only place we could really do it.

"The parents are upset because they were all behind us. A lot of them are going to have to look at other places and may have to give up work."

A petition signed by 47 people in favour of the application was submitted to members of the Keighley Area Planning Committee last Thursday, along with a letter in support from Aireview Infants School.

The plans for a stone built extension to the rear of the building had attracted opposition from neighbouring householders, who were concerned about the potential increase in traffic around the nursery.

A petition with 32 signatures was submitted in opposition to the plans, along with six further letters of objection.

At the meeting Mrs Briggs argued that there would be no increase in traffic, as the seven children who would use the facility would be siblings of the children attending the day school.

But chairman Coun Chris Greaves said there was no way this could be laid down for future owners of the building, and, if granted permission,the after-school club would be able to accommodate up to 18 extra children at the site.

Coun Eric Dawson spoke in favour of the plans.

He said: "It is an up and running business. It has been there for a few years, and I have never heard any complaints about it."

Coun John Prestage agreed: "It serves the community and I think it should be encouraged. My only problem with it would be highways."

The vote was equally divided, with two against, two for and two abstentions. Chairman, Coun Chris Greaves cast the deciding vote.

Now Mrs Briggs says she is looking into appealing against the decision.

She said: "It is a big road and the extension would not make a difference. The car park is never full because people don't all arrive at once."