A HEARING to determine an appeal after a council rejected plans for a children’s nursery has been delayed due to rail strike action.

Maldon District Council refused the plans to replace the industrial unit on Broad Street Green Road in Great Totham with a nursery and home in January.

The council said the development would be an "unwelcome visual intrusion" in the undeveloped countryside.

A second application for a home on land north of Poplar Grove Chase in Great Totham was also subject to the appeal hearing.

The hearing had been scheduled to take place over two days at the Maldon District Council offices in Princes Road, Maldon, from today.

But it has now been cancelled due to strike action by Southern Rail staff.

In a letter Stephen Wallis, of the Planning Inspectorate, said: “Due to the scheduled strike action by Southern Rail the inspector due to sit the hearings for the appeals will be unable to attend on 10 and 11 January.

“This leaves us with no option other than to cancel the hearings, we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The letter said the earliest the inspector would be available is the week commencing January 30.

A new date and location of the hearing will be announced once it has been agreed.