PLANNING MATTERS

This edition of the Newsletter was going to press in the run-up to the District Council election, so there is no View from Shute End this time. However, the Village Society continues to be vigilant on planning matters and has written a letter of objection to the Millgate Homes proposals for 24 two and three-bedroom apartments and parking for 38 cars on the Bonhomie Court site in Broadcommon Road.

We have objected on the grounds of environment, traffic, local infrastructure and design. Bonhomie Court is situated within the flood-plain, and we are very concerned about the risks of flooding to this and neighbouring properties. The proposed development would cover more ground with tarmac, which would reduce the opportunities for surface water to be displaced naturally. The Environment Agency is also objecting to the development because of the risk of flooding; they have estimated that the increase in ground area covered is 260 square metres.

Call for sensitive development

The narrow country lanes are already a danger area for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders due to the heavy traffic using these roads to access industrial units in redundant farm buildings. We have asked the council to consider the cumulative effect of increased traffic flow from the development, which would be intolerable and detrimental to the rural nature of this part of the village.

The school is already at full capacity and therefore children from the development would have to be driven and bussed outside the village. The proposed architectural design is totally out of keeping with houses in Broadcommon Road.

It is inevitable that some development will take place on the Bonhomie Court site, and we hope that in future the Village Design Statement will be used when developers are planning their proposals.

The Village Society has asked Wokingham District Council to reduce the size of the proposed development, ensure that the ground covered area is no larger than the current building; and ensure that the design of any development is sensitive and reflects the Victorian design of cottages on Broadcommon Road.