A Marlow nursery fears it will lose business if it is not given permission to provide half-day childcare.

Bosses at Childcare4U, based at Farm House, in Crown Lane, was allowed to become a private day nursery in 2003 on the condition that it could not provide care for children on a half-day basis without prior written consent of the local planning authority.

The reason given by Wycombe District Council at the time was cited as “not to create additional pressure for parking provision at mid-day where capacity has not been proven”.

Now the nursery has applied to have this condition removed as it says it is losing business as a result.

Manager Helen Cartwright said: “We are getting a lot of parents coming in for show arounds and 98 per cent of them are looking for half-day provision for childcare.

“We would love to offer half-day – all the other nurseries in Marlow offer half-day.

“The parents that are saying they want half-day are then going to other nurseries, which is a shame.”

But Marlow Town Councillors are worried removing the condition could put pressure on the already limited parking around the street.

Speaking at a planning committee meeting this week, Cllr Emily West said: “You could potentially double the number of cars in and out.

“The car parks [around there] are chocka anyway.”

Town Mayor Jocelyn Towns added: “I think we have to say that we’re concerned about the increase in cars and parking.

“[It is] ridiculous – there are never any parking spaces available at that time. Midday is the worst time to try and get into any of the spaces.”

According to a letter written to Wycombe District Council regarding the planning permission, a “transport statement demonstrates that around 60 per cent of the children are brought to the nursery by foot” and that “by changing the timings to enable drop offs/pick-ups between 12 – 1pm, this would create an approximate parking demand of up to 10 spaces”.

The letter added: “It is evident that the impact likely to be generated from half day nursery care provision would not be material and is comparable, if not less intensive than the existing lawful use in terms of travel and parking demand.”

It also says the condition is “very restrictive” on how the nursery operates.

Ms Cartwright said: “We are losing business. The majority of our parents walk to the nursery.

“All the parents who want half day, we think will walk unless they are going to shopping or something afterwards.

“Poppies which is just a minute or so down the road from us has half-day provision which seems unfair.”