A company boss is criticising delays to the planning system after a nursery in Bristol has been blocked from expanding. Despite huge demand for nursery places in the city, the Little Pioneers Co-operative Childcare nursery next to Temple Meads train station has so far been unable to expand provision.
Phil Ponsonby is the chief executive of Midcounties Co-operative, which runs 48 nurseries across the country including two in Bristol. In an open letter to Bristol City Council bosses, he said his expansion plans had been “hampered by delays and intransigence” at the council.
The council denied the delays were its fault, and said they were actually due to planned changes to a Grade-I listed building. Planning law means the council must consult on these changes with heritage groups, due to their effects on historic and protected buildings.
