A NEW nursery will be built in Netherton Park, much to the disappointment of frustrated neighbours.

Dudley Council will build the nursery facility on land adjacent to Netherton Park Nursery School, to provide 32 places for two-year-olds in the area.

The green light was given by members of the council's Development Control Committee on Monday, despite concerns about it adding to existing congestion and parking problems in the surrounding streets.

Rob Grainger, who lives on Arch Hill Street, which leads to the children's centre car park, said the narrow cul-de-sac was "chaotic" at dropping off and picking up times.

He said: "It causes a lot of disruption to our day to day lives. Every vehicle that comes in has to go out the same way and being a narrow road, two cars can't pass if there are cars parked on both sides, which they usually are. Some residents get their drives blocked quite frequently."

Mr Grainer also told the committee he was concerned the development would make current problems with flooding and sewage leaks in the park worse and have a negative impact on wildlife conservation.

However the committee was told the site was of "relatively limited ecological value", that drainage was a construction issue and as parents using the new nursery would be able to use the existing 30-space car park, it was not believed that current problems would be exacerbated.

To assure disruption was kept to a minimum, members decided to put a condition on the approval to ensure a parking action plan was put in place.

Councillor Keiran Casey said: "There have been 40 properties objecting to the plans and 50 in support and a petition with 176 names on it in favour so for me, there is clearly a need for childcare places in this area. This is the obvious place. I acknowledge concerns but I personally feel this is an application that will bring other benefits to the community."

Councillor Asif Ahmed agreed, adding: "If we look at the positives, by some distance they outweigh the negatives."