At a meeting on 11 January, members of the council’s Area Planning Sub Committee approved plans to demolish 27 St Helens Road and extend the Abbeyfield House care home on Regency Mews to include 17 extra care flats and 8 dementia care flats.

Councillor Stephen Fenton joined  local residents at the meeting to ask the committee to refuse the application. Stephen focused his remarks on the impact that the development would have on the Wendy House Day Nursery, which has served local families for over 27 years.

Despite the concerns raised by the speakers, the committee voted unanimously to accept the officer recommendation that the application be approved.

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Z7lvLYv9M