THE owners of a restaurant and café are trying to turn a shop in Bradford on Avon’s busiest shopping area into a children’s nursery and creche.

Mark Kendall, of the Fat Fowl and Roost Family Cafe, wants to convert the former Fetch pet shop in The Shambles into a nursery and crèche.

He already has a soft play area above the Fat Fowl restaurant for children to play in while their parents are enjoying refreshments and snacks in the dining areas.

Mr Kendall said: “There is an acute shortage of children’s day nursery places in the town. We also own the Westview Day Nursery and have a waiting list for places. We could provide places for up to 40 children by turning the shop in The Shambles into a day nursery and creche.”

He has submitted two planning applications to Wiltshire Council to open up a old doorway from the Fat Fowl into the former pet shop and convert the premises.

Local businesses have voiced concerns about lack of access, restricted parking, noise and the loss of a commercial retail unit.

Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust thinks that access from The Shambles would be considerably safer than from the ground floor of The Fat Fowl.

Cllr Alex Kay, chairman of the town council’s planning and environment committee, which is also objecting to the scheme, said they would ask Wiltshire Council to assess the suitability of the premises for a nursery and creche.

“We are concerned about the access, restricted parking and drop off points as well as the impact of noise on neighbours.”

“There’s no outdoor space for the children and the loss of a retail frontage is also contrary to the Neighbourhood Plan,” she said.