A CHILDREN’S nursery is stepping up its fight to keep a “big fence” which allows youngsters to play outside safely.

Bosses at the Imperial Day Nursery, in Imperial Avenue, Westcliff, have launched an appeal with the planning inspectorate after Southend Council ruled the fence must be pulled down.

Earlier this year, the council approved enforcement action over the fence which was installed without planning permission.

The fence was designed to create a safe enclosed space for their children to play outside, but the council deemed it too large and overly-dominant.

James Courtenay, councillor responsible for the Chalkwell ward, is hoping the nursery and the council to find a middle ground.

He said: “I get it as it is always great to have an outdoor space to play in.

“But you need to take into account how it looks as well, and it is not in keeping with the rest of the area, it is a great, big fence.

“There must be something they can do for a happy medium, so kids still have a place outdoors but something that isn’t an eyesore.

“There must be an alternative that can be worked out, so that children still have an outdoor space.

“The council doesn’t take enforcement action lightly. So, I hope the nursery just works with the council to find something acceptable.”

The 1.83metre fence is at the front of the property.

According to the nursery, it was installed for privacy reasons to allow the children to play outside without being overlooked.

However, planning officers branded it as “prominent and stark”, and retrospective plans were refused by the council, before enforcement action was issued.

Southend Council believes the unauthorised development results in “significant harm” to the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area.

According to the enforcement notice, the nursery was offered an alternative to the removal of the fences, by reducing them to no more than one-metre in height to comply with permitted development limitations.

However, the nursery has now submitted an appeal to the planning inspector in the hope the fence can remain in place.