A SITE visit is being made to a redundant barn near Milton Abbot to see if it would be suitable for transformation into a 56-place children's nursery.

West Devon planners decided to look at the site at Dunterton before reaching a decision, after hearing applicant Nicola Du-Gay talk about the need for more childcare in the area at a planning meeting last week.

The building was formerly used as children's holiday accommodation for the charity CHICKS (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids) and is part of a small complex of converted barns.

County Highways had objected to the proposal because it said it was in 'a non sustainable location' with limited transport to the area. Planning officers recommended the application be refused on these grounds saying the development was likely to create the need for additional travel by private vehicles.

Nicola Du-Gay said there were a number of rural villages surrounding this area as well as towns like Tavistock, Launceston and Callington which would potentially have the need for childcare in the 0-5 age group.

She said she had been looking for somewhere for three years to open a nursery and this site was an ideal environment to set up a base for children to have 'wonderful indoor and outdoor experiences.'

The maximum number of children had been reduced from 72 to 56 in total, with a maximum of 40 per day. She said it was recognised by Family Services that there was insufficient provision for families wanting childcare services during the holidays and out of hours, which this nursery would offer.

Car sharing, a minibus service from local schools and children arriving at different times would lessen the traffic impact, added Mrs Du-Gay.

Ward member Cllr Dilwyn Hughes said he welcomed this proposal and suggested a site meeting be held.