SWINDON'S most famous dance school, the Tanwood School, is to be re-homed after its leader, Mollie Tanner, won the hearts of councillors.

Swindon Council's planning committee last night overlooked the recommendations of council officers and residents' concerns to approve Mrs Tanner's proposal to convert the former Scout hall in Dowling Street, Old Town, into a new dance hall.

It means the 73-year-old's plans to move her dance classes from the Wyvern Theatre could come to fruition by Easter.

For more than 50 years, Mrs Tanner's pupils have been entertaining theatres and community halls with professional shows, many of which have been in aid of charity.

But she has been looking for her own hall with her daughter, Pollyann, for some time, because the hard floors at the Wyvern often injure the heels of the 200 dancers in her school.

The wooden floors at the former scout hall, which currently houses a squash club, are said to be perfect for dancing.

Residents raised concern about the parking and noise problems a dance school would cause and council officers backed those concerns in a report to the meeting, stating that the dropping off and picking up of children in an area already short of parking spaces could threaten highway safety.

But just two councillors agreed, with 14 voting in favour of the plans, including Councillor Anne Baxter (Lib Dem, Eastcott).

She said: "Everyone knows Mollie and her reputation is unsurpassed in the town for her fundraising. I don't think there will be a parking problem because most of the children will walk there. I think Mollie will be a good neighbour."

Regarding the noise problem, it was asked that the building be sound-proofed as part of the conditions for approval.

After the meeting, Mrs Tanner said: "I'm overjoyed. I think we will be looking at moving in some time around Easter after all the work has been done. I can assure residents there will not be a parking problem."