AN EXTRAORDINARY meeting is being held to discuss a planning application for a children's home near Malpas.

The application is for a change of use on a house in Cholmondeley Road from a typical residential home to a care home, but the application change has several residents concerned.

The managing director of Compass Children's Homes, Bernie Gibson, attended No Man's Heath and District Parish Council's (NMHDPC) January meeting earlier this month in an effort to answer questions from members of the public.

Owing to the number of questions from the public, it was decided to hold another meeting, to discuss the planning application in more depth.

To help organise the meeting, Ms Gibson will only answer questions submitted prior to the meeting, which will be held on Thursday, January 23 at 7pm. at Bickley Coronation Hall.

Questions will revolve around; the risk to the community from the children placed, future uses of the property if planning is granted and the view that Compass has not been transparent.

Trevor Parker, chairman of NMHDPC says the upcoming meeting will be more structured in regards to asking questions.

"Compass has already acknowledged our concerns about the risk to children due to the location of the house, a consequence of speeding cars, no lighting, sign restrictions and no footpath," said Mr Parker.

"The objective will be to have a managed flow of non-replicated questions that have been established before the meeting date.

"These will have been sent to Compass in advance to enable them to give a more concise and focused response.

"Questions will be listed in order and the originators will be called to present them."

Anyone with questions for Compass should be sent to nomansheathanddistrictpc@hotmail.com by Sunday, January 19, with the subject Compass Question.