Planning Department's rejection of their plan to consolidate their facilities on one site.

Mr. Edwin and Mrs. Margaret Lambe who run Little Lambs Nursery Schools said they can't understand why their application was turned down.

The Lambes want to convert an unoccupied two-storey apartment building next to their Kings Court pre-school facility into a day care centre.

Once renovations were completed, they planned to move the two and three-year-old children currently cared for at the Little Lambs on Dundonald Street in Hamilton to the new building.

But despite a stack of signed statements from neighbours supporting the renovations, and plans which included a new playground, easier access and additional parking, the Development Applications Board nixed the scheme.

"My gripe is, they gave us a permit for this building,'' said Mrs. Lambe at the site. "And just two steps over there, they can't give us one.'' One of the Board's prime reasons for refusing the plan was that "the site is not served directly by a public road''. It stated this was contrary to special provisions governing high density areas in the 1983 Bermuda Development Plan.

Kings Court is a narrow lane just outside the city limits of Hamilton off King Street. Two cars are able to pass each other on the road, although clearance space is tight.

But Mrs. Lambe said their renovation plans included the construction of a second access road from Curving Avenue, giving the property two entrances.

The proposed two-lane "back road'' would lead to a one-way looping driveway in front of the nursery, where parents could safely drop off their children.

Nearby parking spaces for cars and cycles were also included on the blue prints.

"We would have ample parking and turn-around space,'' Mr. Lambe said. "And they still refused it. I just don't understand.'' The Board also said the site was "not suitable for the proposed intensification of use from 50 to 135 children''.

"The Health Department gave us permission for 85 children (for the new building),'' said Mrs. Lambe. "And after a year of dealing with the Planning Department, they just refuse us.'' Each of the nursery schools currently has 40 children enrolled, although they are authorised to accept more.

Mrs. Lambe, who has worked in childcare for over 30 years, explained that only the younger children would use the new building and playground -- pre-schoolers would remain at the present facilities.

She said all of their neighbours from the surrounding area signed statements indicating that they had no objections to the nursery's expansion, and to her knowledge no one registered an objection with Planning.

Mrs. Lambe added that the renovations would be an excellent addition to the surrounding community.

Another reason given for the refusal -- that insufficient information was submitted "to enable a proper assessment of the proposal'' -- made the Lambes see red.

"Everything they called for, we have given them,'' Mrs. Lambe said. "Even the plans show everything.'' EMPTY DREAM -- Margaret and Edwin Lambe stand in front of the unoccupied apartment building which was to have been an expansion of their Little Lambs Nursery School on Kings Court in Pembroke. The Development Planning Board rejected their renovation plans citing inadequate access and space.