RESIDENTS who waged a two-year battle for justice over a controversial nursery application in Risley have drawn up a list of suggested changes to Warrington's system for dealing with planning applications.

Earlier this month, the ombudsman recommended that £200 compensation should be paid to six householders living near the nursery at 13/15, Delenty Drive.

It was ruled that maladminstration had taken place in the planning process, as a borough council planning officer had informed Birchwood Town Council clerk Gary Crowe that there were no other objections to the nursery, which led to the authority withdrawing its comments.

But the neighbours were faced with a robust defence of particular aspects of the current approach by John Earle, the borough council's strategic director of development control.

Delenty Drive spokesman Mr Chris Bolton said: "This complaint was made two years ago. It has taken a lot of our time and a lot of the council's time."

On behalf of residents, he suggested a number of points which might improve the system, including:

l Supplementary planning guidance should be drawn up by the borough, as adopted by councils such as Liverpool and Stockport, specifically dealing with nurseries.

l The council should consider making it necessary for environmental health reports to be considered for all similar applications, given their potential impact on neighbours.

Added Mr Bolton: "We do not believe that our objections were taken seriously and we do not believe that our complaint was taken seriously.

"But we do hope the council takes our suggestions seriously to improve the planning process."

Mr Earle said he accepted a number of the findings of the ombudsman - but took serious issue with the watchdog's advice against assisting the public in filling out planning application forms.

"That to me is a complete misunderstanding of how difficult the planning process can be, not only to the vulnerable but anyone who has never come into contact with it before," Mr Earle said.