Children’s swimming lessons can continue in a Robinson Road pool after Tendring District Council (TDC) planners raised no objections.

The indoor pool in the back garden of Jethen House had been used for lessons by two local swimming schools for around 15 years.

But when the property changed hands in the summer, new owners Nicole and Matthew Wilby found that the pool didn’t have planning permission for commercial use.

Consequently, the couple applied for permission to hire out the pool for lessons for up to five children on four mornings and two afternoons a week in term times, with the possibility of hiring it out for family use as well.

There were no objections to the proposal from neighbours, though some, together with Brightlingsea Town Council, raised parking issues. In their report, planners said that although the property had a large hardstanding area for parking, this would not be sufficient to provide all the spaces required.

However, they concluded that there were “plenty of opportunities to park safely on the road” and were content that the shortfall of parking spaces “would not be significantly harmful on this occasion”.

Permission was granted on condition that the pool is only used for business use between 9am and 7.30pm on weekdays, and on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. Commercial use on Sundays and Bank Holidays was forbidden.