After receiving a complaint, Hillingdon Council planning officers visited Carol Cochrane in July, and told her she must apply for a change of use for her growing business to continue trading.

Mrs Cochrane has run My Mums Away from her home in Eastcote Road, Ruislip, for seven years.

On the same day, Ofsted inspectors were carrying out a review, and gave the childminding service a ‘good’ rating, praising it for a calm and homely environment that encourages learning.

Mrs Cochrane is worried that if the council refuses the change of use, her business will have to fold.

“I can’t believe they would shut me down after seven years because of a complaint from one person,” she said.

The grievance centred on noise made by the children and traffic problems caused by parents delivering and collecting children. Mrs Cochrane rejects both accusations.

“I have never received a complaint before, and I have never been told to consult planning officers to run a childminding service from home.

“We don’t know if we are going to shut down so I have had to
tell Haydon School that we can’t provide training for their Level 3 students completing Early Years Development training.

“I had been organising my first apprenticeship course for a student, who was due to start next week, and I have had to tell her I can’t take her on now.

“I am trying to provide a service for people. The families will be distraught if I am put out of business. My customers are doctors, surgeons, police officers and I work 12 hours a day to look after their children.”

Mrs Cochrane applied for retrospective permission in August to change the residential use of her home to include ‘non-residential institution’, and has until October 21 to submit supporting documents.

A council spokesman said: “Planning rules differ from Ofsted inspection rules. The fact that Ofsted has rated the business favourably does not affect decisions on planning matters.

“When planning officers visited her, she agreed to apply for planning permission for a change of use. The council will decide whether to grant permission in due course, and we can’t speculate as to what the outcome will be.”