COUNCILLORS agreed a village property could be used for up to four children in care despite objections from four parish councils and more than 20 residents.

The certificate of proposed lawful use was agreed by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council for Sedgemoor College at The Firs, Alpraham.

The business provides residential care and education for young people placed in its care by social services, according to a report.

The former dwelling house now has approval to be occupied by a maximum of four children between the ages of 11 and 18 with non-resident adult supervision on an eight-hour shift basis of each period of 24 hours.

In its application to the borough council, Sedgemoor sought a certificate that its proposed use of the property would be lawful.

Opposing the application, Alpraham Parish Council referred to a High Court decision and pointed out that Sedgemoor was a profit-making business.

Carers would effectively be shift workers, some of whom would sleep on the premises and the residents would not live together as a household.

The parish council argued that in some other areas including Vale Royal, the change of use in what was said to be a dwelling house would not be accepted.

Parish councillors raised concerns about problems of vandalism and antisocial behaviour, the unsuitability of isolated areas for young people from urban areas and claims relating to an increase in crime in areas where such houses had been established.

Tiverton and Tilstone Fearnall Parish Council claimed that Sedgemoor had no control over young people living in a similar property in Bunbury and suggested the activities of the residents caused problems for the police.

The council said there were already two similar properties within five miles and a further one was unacceptable.

Bunbury Parish Council objected 'in the strongest possible terms' and said residents had been 'subject to a spate of petty crime and verbal abuse' from residents of a Sedgemoor property there. The police had been called and arrests made.

'Whilst it is accepted that lads with behavioural problems need to be housed, placing them in rural communities where there is nothing to do only causes mis-chief,' argued the parish council. Individual objectors put forward fears that residents at similar homes caused problems including vandalism, burglary, criminal damage and bad behaviour.

It was said the police needed to be called out and there were concerns about the way Sedgemoor operated.

It was argued the property would be used for a business, not as a dwelling.

Sedgemoor insisted The Firs would be used as a dwelling and the aim would be to provide a homely environment with no locks on bedroom doors.

Space would be provided for young people to watch TV, play games and meet visitors.

They would be encouraged to participate in a range of indoor and outdoor activities and a minimum of two 'suitably experienced and qualified staff' would be on duty at any one time.

Borough councillors were told in a report: 'Whilst there is sympathy with the views expressed by residents and parish councils, this is not a planning application and the effects of existing similar homes on the lives of residents in those villages cannot be considered.'

They agreed the occupiers would not be a family but felt the proposed use of the property would not be significantly different from its use as a dwelling house.

Planning officers recommended the certificate should be granted and this was agreed by the borough's development control committee.