I am writing to you to express my shock and disappointment at the recent unprecedented decision by the Hillingdon North planning committee regarding my planning application for a nursery in Ickenham [The Death of Democracy, Uxbridge Gazette, December 31].

This application is the result of 18 months' hard work and co-operation between myself and the council to ensure it meets all requirements laid down by the relevant council agencies, in respect of noise, environmental protection and transport.

The application has been approved not only by all of these agencies but also by the council planning committee itself in a meeting on December 9, where a majority of councillors agreed to approve the application, subject to conditions to be agreed -which is the correct democratic process as I understood it.

My ideas of democracy have been somewhat tested, however, by the out-come of the subsequent planning committee meeting of December 23.

I was originally informed that this meeting would be to discuss and agree the specific conditions relating to the application.

However, suddenly and without any explanation, I found that the committee took the unusual and unexpected step of making a complete u-turn and the approval was reversed.

The need for good quality childcare in Ickenham is urgent, and apparent especially to the numerous families in the area who have contacted me and are desperately seeking the small scale, homely childcare I aim to provide.

I have been sympathetic and respectful to the views and sensitivities of my neighbours and residents, including the Ickenham Residents' Association, and I cannot understand how under these circumstances a planning application which has been approved can suddenly and without explanation be reversed by the same committee who recently approved it.

To date I have received limited official communication from the council regarding this, presumably because the circumstances are so unusual that they are unsure about how to proceed.

No one has explained to me exactly why the approved planning application was rescinded.

Naturally this has left me feeling extremely upset with the whole process.

I am currently working closely with my architect, Simon Hands and Associates, and taking legal advice to consider the next steps.

NEGIN NASSABEH,

by email