JUBILANT residents have praised planning chiefs for ruling against developing a former Wareham nursery site.

Purbeck District Council’s planning board refused an application to tear down the former Forest Pre-School building at Tantinoby Lane, Northmoor, and replace it with a single four-bedroom detached home.

Resident Fiona Sullivan, who spoke at the district meeting after vowing to fight development plans, said: “I am extremely chuffed with the result.”

Neighbours fought develop- ers on the grounds the proposed house would block light to surrounding homes and make the narrow road leading to the site unsafe for children.

Fiona said: “The access would have affected lots of people, as there is a footpath at the site leading up to a children’s play park.”

A report from Dorset County Council’s countryside access officer concluded: “Any vehicles leaving the site during or after construction could pose a risk to walkers, many of whom are small children going to the play area.

“The path, as it is at present, would not stand up to use by motor vehicles and would quickly become damaged and hazardous for walkers to use.”

Wareham Town Council had already refused permission because of the highways issues and the proposed house’s close proximity to neighbouring properties.

Last summer the district council’s planning board threw out a similar application to build two homes on the site.

The company behind the latest proposals, MDM Developments (Southern Ltd), was not responsible for the earlier application.

Speaking ahead of the crunch planning meeting, Fiona, whose Sherford Close home backs on to the former pre-school site, said: “The new proposal would greatly reduce the natural daylight that our property has enjoyed for more than 20 years.”