Parents and staff at a nursery in Buckinghamshire are concerned that a new housing facility for vulnerable people next door will pose a safeguarding risk to young children. 

Coombe Lodge on Aylesbury Road in Wendover was formerly a care home for over-65s, but since being purchased by the National Housing Group (NHG) earlier this year, it has been re-designated as a YMCA temporary housing facility for vulnerable adults.

Buckinghamshire Council granted planning permission for the re-designation of the building on October 9, despite backlash from parents and staff at Wendover Day Nursery, a neighbouring establishment that sits just four feet away from Coombe Lodge.

One parent, whose daughter currently attends Wendover Day Nursery, said they are "incredibly worried" about the safety risk that could be posed to young children at the nursery, who are aged between 12 weeks and five years old.

"The building next door has windows overlooking the nursery garden and most of the rooms - a cigarette butt or broken glass could easily be thrown over, or people who have an unhealthy interest in children could be housed there.

"It just makes no sense for potentially dangerous adults to live in the building next to a nursery. As one other parent starkly put it, there is zero room for error here."

Anita Wilder, Chief Operating Officer at the CC Nursery Group, which owns Wendover Day Nursery, said she is also concerned for the safety of nursery staff who are largely female and under 25.

"We read about the stabbing that happened recently at the YMCA hostel in High Wycombe and you know the kind of stuff that can come with these facilities - drug misuse and alcohol abuse. 

"We just don't feel that a two-metre fence and four-metre distance between the two buildings is enough in terms of security. It's not appropriate to have this kind of facility right next to a nursery."

READ MORE: Family restaurant announces closure with a 'heavy heart' after 35 years

Anita said some parents have already withdrawn their children from the nursery over fears about the proximity of potentially dangerous individuals.

She added: "We don't feel that we have been properly heard or that our concerns have been addressed. It's difficult because, of course, we'll do everything we can to safeguard the children but I don't feel that I can give the parents and staff all the reassurance that they need."

Guy Foxell, CEO of One YMCA, said: “We are aware of the concerns raised by parents and owners of the Nursery and have met with them to explain how we work and the way we support our residents to independence.

“We also have experience running daycare nurseries, one of which ran successfully for years right next to a large hostel without incident.

“Because our residents will all be local people who need an extra boost, we know we need to connect effectively with the local community, none more so than the nursery. We already have open lines of communication and are committed to working with them to be the best neighbours we can be.”

Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration said: “This application has been approved following the correct planning process. The matters raised by third parties were not, in the opinion of the council, sufficient grounds to grant a refusal.

“The new facility will be subject to a new management plan and on-site security. There are also a number of planning conditions attached to the planning approval which will need to be adhered to and dealt with prior to the facility’s first use.”