A COUNCILLOR is worried not enough has been done about the traffic for a new nursery in North Oxford.

St John’s College has lodged plans with Oxford City Council to build a nursery to cater for 25 children on a site off Bainton Road.

It would be open Mondays to Fridays between 8am and 6pm and cater for children from six months to pre-school age.

But concerns have been raised by residents about cars coming in and out of the nursery via a semi-circular driveway.

A traffic report produced by consultancy firm Glanville for the college said that it was expected to generate 17 two-way vehicle journeys in the morning and 14 in the afternoon.

The report added that there were cycle lanes nearby: “With this in mind, it is considered that the site is located such that journeys by staff, as well as parents and children can be undertaken by means other than the private car.”

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But St Margaret’s city councillor Elizabeth Wade said: “This seems to me to be a low estimate. Many people using the nursery will be young academics who cannot afford to live in Oxford and will arrive by car.”

Mrs Wade also warned that turning restrictions should be put in place for vehicles entering the driveway. She said: “People are concerned by this because it is a busy road and this entrance would be next to two blind bends.“There should be turning restrictions which prevent cars turning right out of the exit at the south end of the driveway, as well as on turning right into the north end.”

The plans come after a consultation was held for residents to give their views on the scheme, when worries were initially raised about the nursery’s impact on traffic.

The college’s agent, Savills, said: “The comments raised as part of the consultation process generally related to traffic concerns, noise concerns and design and the impact upon the character of the area.

“The matters raised were taken into account by the team preparing the application and, where possible, amendments were made to the proposals.”

Savills said additional screening had been added to the plans to reduce the impact of noise from children playing would be reduced.

But it said that the semi-circle road for cars arriving at the nursery, which residents complained about, was the “optimal solution”.

The firm added: “The proposal ensures the best visibility can be achieved and the safe circulation of traffic within the site and upon exit.”

The college’s £600,000 proposals for the nursery are designed to be environmentally friendly and incorporate recycled materials and “solar tubes”, which draw sunlight down into the rooms beneath them. A green roof, covered in grass that can absorb large amounts of water, has also been included to reduce the risk of flooding and the building’s visual impact.

St John’s College is building the nursery to help address a shortage of places for Oxford University staff.

Four nurseries are currently run by Oxford University for the colleges, but some, including Somerville, Balliol, Wolfson and St Anne’s, have recently opened their own.

If proposals for the nursery in Bainton Road are successful, it could also offer afterschool services for parents in the afternoons.

The city council’s deadline for considering the plans is May 21.