Ashby de la Zouch Town Council has lodged an objection to plans by Rushcliffe Care Group to convert Loudon House into a secure residential institution care facility.

Monday's meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee made its decision on the grounds of 'unacceptable or incompatible use of the new building' and requested a meeting with the three Ashby Willesley Ward members to ask more questions about the proposed development.

The committee expressed concern over the use of the word 'secure' in the planning application made to North West Leicestershire District Council.

Committee members expressed strong views about the 'vague' proposals put forward by Rushcliffe Care Group who want to put a new building on the Ridgway Road site in Ashby which replaces the former care home, Loudoun House.

Ashby Nub News reported on Monday that Rushcliffe Care had attempted to allay fears about the precise use of the building by saying it would not be a halfway house for convicted criminals, drug addicts or offenders.

In a letter sent to the Town Council, Rushcliffe Care set out those assurances and said it was 'perhaps understandable that local residents and the wider community within Ashby de la Zouch had expressed concerns about the client groups who will occupy the proposed facility'.

But committee members felt they needed more information and have objected to the current proposals until they have spoken to the company.

Cllr David Bigby said: "The District Council spoke to the developer with regard to the use and, as following those discussions, they have reclassified the title of the application as to erect a new 'secure' facility.

"I was originally quite happy with this, but I'm now concerned that the fact that it's now being labelled as a 'secure residential facility, there's very little in the planning application to talk about what security measures have been taken. I think we need a lot more information.

"I'm concerned that there was no public consultation before they put the application in, nor was there any consultation at the District Council offices.

Cllr Geraint Jones added: "They're being deliberately vague about this application. We almost gifted them this site when they took it off the council.

"We need to keep a serious eye on this development. There's a primary school nearby and lots of residential properties around there.

Cllr Mary Tuckey said "We have to be seen to be doing more, because it is a big concern, we owe it to ourselves as a council to look into it as much as we can."