Plans for new flats on the corner of a Reading road near a school have been slammed as ‘crazy’ and ‘ridiculous’.
Chesters Place Limited, has lodged a planning application to build four new flats and a retail unit with parking next to a cafe and school in Tilehurst.
This has attracted opposition from parents who say that this will make the site more dangerous for children travelling to Park Lane School, which sits opposite the proposed site.
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The site sits at the point where Downing Road and School Road meet and is currently a pathway with advertisement boards.
Some people have called the plans to turn the area into flats “crazy” and “ridiculous” due to the size of the proposed site.
People who live nearby have also said traffic and congestion will increase and that Mad Hatters cafe car park will be used unfairly by the residents of the new dwelling.
The applicant hopes to provide two-two bedroom apartments measuring 67m2 by 80m2 and two one-bedroom apartments measuring 52m2 and 55m2.
The Design and Access statement for the planning application says “the site is being used inefficiently and is underachieving its potential to visually acknowledge its setting”.
Among those to lodge objections is Lisa White.
In her objection, she said: “We simply do not have the infrastructure to support any further additional parking.
“There are residences in Downing Road with 2 to 3 cars to a single household. Plus Teachers and school pick-ups and dropoffs.
“This will be a nightmare for all. Strongly object.”
Hannah Szwarc said: “Absolutely ridiculous. Park Lane school children have had enough disruption during Covid and now with this ridiculous idea again. No change to the last plans.
“How is it safe for school children, residents, and public, it is just silly we have plenty of shops in the area that are empty, parking is already a massive issue.”
(Image: Google Maps)
Paul Clark said: “Totally crazy idea to build next to a school. Imagine the disruption whilst building work is going on.
“There’s no parking for the proposed retail unit. This proposal should be declined once and for all.”
Another complainant said: “This is a ridiculous plan to squeeze so much into a tiny space.”
A woman called Sarah Thomas works in the annex that sits adjacent to the plot of land which could be built on.
She said: “I work in the annex adjoining the plot of land. The annex holds two classrooms for Park Lane Junior school.
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“The children are constantly crossing Downing Road to gain entry to the main building.
“With this application, it will encourage more road traffic that isn’t good for the safety of children who walk to school or need to cross over to the main building. It could also be a potential safeguarding issue.”
However, Highway Planning Ltd who provided consultation for the applicant concluded that “there are no highway-related reasons why the development should not receive planning permission.”
The consultation period for this planning application began on February 1, 2022.
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