CONCERNS have been raised about a ‘path to nowhere’, which residents fear could also hint at an unannounced Wokingham Borough Council U-turn.
The walkway, alongside Shinfield’s Hyde End Lane, starts at Ryeish Lane but stops abruptly before Fullbrook Avenue. Students accessing Oakbank School and other pedestrians are subsequently forced to walk on the single-lane road.
As part of its Croft Gardens development, housebuilder Taylor Wimpey carried out work on the completed section of the pathway, with the council obliged to finish the remainder of the path due to reach the proposed primary school site. The lack of action has led some residents to believe the school may not be delivered.
Wokingham Borough Council said it had not abandoned the option of building a new primary school in Shinfield, confirming it would be considered when the council was “reasonably sure” there would be long-term need.
Resident Paul Steele, who lives in the village, said: “Expecting everyone to take their lives in their hands walking down former quiet country lanes without footpaths or muddy footpaths, where they do exist, does not encourage people to walk. Most would be overgrown and sometimes impassable were it not for volunteers cutting back vegetation.
“The most ridiculous example is Hyde End Lane. It’s known as the ‘path to nowhere’.”
In January, 76-year-old Helen Bouchami was knocked down by a car while walking on the road.
As the driver swung his vehicle around a corner, Ms Bouchami described its wing mirror hitting her in the midriff, bouncing off its side and being thrust onto the ground.
She said: “I was lucky that I sustained no serious injury. The only lasting damage was to my jacket, which the driver replaced.
“I’ve often been alarmed by cars, and especially large vehicles, passing too fast and too close. The lane is used by walkers, dog walkers, horse riders, parents with pushchairs, cyclists, including children.
“The verges are muddy and uneven and there is a flooded ditch beyond. Non-car users need time to move to the side, corralling animals or children to safety, when a vehicle approaches.”
She proposed that the council should consider reducing the speed limit to 15 mph and identified roads such as Lambs Lane and Kingsbridge Hill which are also without footpaths.
Several weeks ago, Ian Young, of Shinfield Parish Council’s rights of way team, took to social media to ask Croft Gardens residents if they felt completing the pathway was necessary or if its abrupt ending was merely a nuisance.
Receiving numerous responses, he decided to establish a petition for the completion of the walkway and secured just under 400 signatures. The parish council hopes a resolution can be reached with Wokingham Borough Council, even suggesting it would be willing to contribute funds.
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey confirmed it had completed their section of the pathway, up to the edge of the proposed school site, in early 2023.
A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said: “We understand the concerns of local residents regarding the proposed pathway next to Croft Gardens. We can confirm that we have completed the works to construct the footway to the edge of the school site, as highlighted in our obligations for the development.
“We acknowledge the importance of pedestrian safety, but as Wokingham Borough Council are responsible for the completion of the remainder of the footpath, we are unable to comment further on this matter.”
The uncertainty surrounding the incomplete pathway has led residents to question the council’s commitment to the delivery of the proposed primary school, with some suggesting the council’s interest could be waning.
“We’ve heard murmurings that Wokingham no longer wants to build the school,” Mr Young said. “If that’s the case, you’d suspect they’d have to hand all the money Taylor Wimpey has paid for the building of the school back.”
Cllr Lindsay Ferris, executive member for planning and local plan, said: “Firstly, we haven’t abandoned the option of building a new primary school in the Shinfield area, which we would consider when we’re reasonably sure the school is needed in the long term.
“However, the potential school site now falls within the detailed emergency planning zone (DEPZ) for the Atomic Weapons Establishment’s Burghfield facility, which wasn’t the case when we obtained planning permission for it but the zone has since expanded.
“This means the site is subject to tighter controls on development and we’re still in discussions with the Office for Nuclear Responsibility and the AWE about what this means for our next steps, and the timescales that might apply.
“The nearby footway was built by the housing developer Taylor Wimpey to support access to the new school, which at the time was thought to be coming soon. It was intended that we would eventually adopt it as public highway.
“We don’t currently have the funding to complete it – and given that there is no school and the road isn’t a main route, funding needs to be directed to higher priority schemes. We know this isn’t ideal but nobody could have foreseen the position with the school and we’re now having discussions with Taylor Wimpey and Shinfield Parish Council about how we might move forward.
“In the meantime, we’ll clear verges along Hyde End Lane to make it safer for pedestrians walking in the carriageway, as is common on rural lanes with no footway. There are signs in place warning drivers of this, and our figures show there is no increased danger to pedestrians on this lane.
“We’ll be able to say more once we know how long the school might be delayed, and we’re chasing answers on this as quickly as we can.”
