A nursery has rejoiced in the news that children will be assured its outside playtime is safe after a unanimous vote in favour at a planning meeting.

Nursery on the Green in Chase Side, Enfield was on the brink of losing outside playtime for its pupils six months ago but has turned thing around and secured the safety of its future.

Owner of the nursery Kaye Wildman admitted she was “overjoyed” by the result and thanked everything for coming along to support her cause.

She said: “I feel like I have won the lottery after hearing this news. It has been something that has always been a niggle at the back of my mind but now a huge weight has been lifted.”

The nursery will be allowed out in the garden for an hour and a half in the morning and again in the evening for a maximum of nine children each time.

Initially due for approval in 2012, the nursery at the time was given a temporary licence for a year.

It was then due to be refused in September 2013 but was given a reprieve and a six-month temporary licence.

She added: “It has been a hard struggle and something that hasn’t been off my mind. I have been instrumental in making sure that we have liaised with locals and worked with local councillors to try and get our licence granted.”

The committee report suggested 12 complaints were made and one suggestion reading: “The continued use of the garden will result in noise nuisance to adjoining residential gardens and carry through open windows of residential and commercial properties.”

However there was no doubt to the way the members of the committee voted will all of them voting in favour of the nursery.

Mrs Wildman will be hoping for a double success when judges from the National Day Nursery Association visit next week to decide if the nursery should be shortlisted for the national away.
She said: “We hope for a second success and I fear that we wouldn’t have stood a chance of winning if we had not been allowed to use the garden.

“It would have been very tough to try and explain to three year olds that they can no longer play in the garden. Our business who has also been in jeopardy as parents might think twice about sending their child here.

“I have woken up today with a big smile on my face and want to thank everyone who has supported us.”