CONCERNS over plans to build two SEND schools in Rooks Nest include transport options, as the site has infrequent bus services, no pavements or cycleways.
Cllr Rebecca Margetts said people would instead have to drive to attend or work at the schools.
“The proposal is contrary to the council’s own aims to reduce carbon emissions and promote active travel. What is the administration doing to address these concerns?” she asked at a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s executive committee on Thursday, June 29.
The deputy leader, Cllr Prue Bray, said a lot of consideration had gone into carbon emission reduction for the proposals, including during the construction phase.
“We have secured a commitment from the Department of Education that the schools will be net zero carbon in operation and be climate resilient, and we will be incorporating enhanced landscaping options and additional tree planting in the design,” she said.
“As with every school, a travel plan, promoting sustainable travel will be required as part of planning, we will be promoting walking and cycling to staff and pupils. Having the schools co-located will also provide the greatest opportunity to optimise homeschool transport taxi or minibus journey.
“But,” she continued, “These young people are some of the most vulnerable in our communities. And therefore it is unlikely that either public transport cycling or walking to school would be a viable option for them.”
She added the schools would only take up a small amount of space in Rooks Nest, compared to the previous draft local plan from the Conservatives which included 270 homes on the site “which, I think, would worry residents a lot more than the two SEND schools we are proposing”.
Cllr Margetts said the answer didn’t address concerns over how staff would get to the sites. “Unless they live in Finchampstead, they will have to drive – there is no bus service, no train and no other way of getting there.”
The plan, she said, would include locating a bus stop on the road for school use.
Later in the meeting, Cllr Bray introduced the report on the planned schools, explaining the need for it to be considered now: “On May 9, the Department of Education started the bidding process for the trusts who will run the schools. The deadline is August 31. If you’re going to run a school, you need to know where the schools are going to be. We have to make the decision so we can get the best bids.”
She added the government specifies new schools should be net zero carbon emissions, and have sprinklers as standard.
The schools will only occupy one corner of the Rooks Nest site.
“The rest of the (the site) is not absolutely finally determined, but we are looking at woodlands extensions, solar farm extensions or allotments,” Cllr Bray said.
Cllr Lindsay Ferris, the executive member for the local plan, said the residential plan for the site proposed under the previous local plan would be removed.
“This means the whole of the Rooks Nest development is now protected from residential development,” he said.
Cllr Imogen Shepherd-Dubey pointed out the SEND schools will both take 100 pupils, so will be smaller in scale than usual schools.
Cllr Sarah Kerr praised the department for Education for ensuring the buildings had to be carbon neutral and wanted this to be the case for all future school builds.
