THE fate of Grayshott Nursing Home is still hanging in the balance after an application to demolish the home was deferred by councillors in favour of a site visit.

The application is for ten two-bedroom flats to be built on the site in Boundary Road, which district councillors believe will increase traffic movement. The site visit, which was proposed by Jacinta Standen, was suggested so that members could see the problem for themselves.

Members of East Hampshire District Council's north planning committee were told last Thursday that the district council had received 30 letters of objection raising a number of concerns about the proposal, which has been submitted by Premier Properties PLC.

Among the concerns raised were: dangerous narrow access on to Headley Road, inadequate access to site proposed, community need for nursing homes is growing, over-development and delivery traffic and visitors adding to congestion in the area.

Grayshott Parish Council has objected to the proposal on the grounds of over-development of the site with restricted access.

Speaking at the meeting, Jan Gale explained the parish council's objection.

"Boundary Road is a private road and towards its junction with Headley Road two cars cannot pass because it is too narrow," she said.

"Very few traffic movements are generated by visitors (to the nursing home).

"The parish council urges the (district) council to refuse this outline planning application."

Local resident Peter Nifton told members that the demolition of the nursing home would mean the loss of an important amenity in Grayshott.

"Relatives who are here will tell you that there are no other places in the local area. Closing nursing homes means one more blocked bed in Frimley Park or the Royal Surrey Hospital," he said.

"Ten flats double the number of dwellings in the road, which already struggles with St Edmund's School and the doctor's surgery. We therefore ask the council to reject this application."

Committee members showed concern for the private nursing home being turned into flats, but case officer Nicky Powis stated in her report that despite local feeling, EHDC has no adopted policy to prevent the proposal in principle.

She said: "Rest and nursing homes such as this one are privately provided facilities and current government policy leaves it to the market to determine levels of provision.

"If there was a perceived shortage of such facilities in the district, the local plan could include policies relating to their retention.

"However, the current local plan contains no such policy."

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Jane Devral said: "The plan meets government guidance. There are no policy objections in the current local plan. It (the nursing home) is a 100-year-old building and it doesn't satisfy current standards. It cannot be practically updated."

Miss Devral also pointed out to members that the parking and highways manager had no objection to the application and she said that evidence showed there would be a reduction in traffic.

Councillor Yvonne Parker Smith said that she sympathised with the residents because they must be confused by the prospect of being moved.

"On the one hand there is the proposal to close the nursing home but on the other there is a proposal to provide nursing home beds in the Chase Hospital," she said.

"Remember, once homes like these are lost, they cannot be replaced."

Mrs Powis recommended outline permission be granted for the proposal however, by majority of eight to five, members agreed to attend a site visit before next month's committee meeting.