Concerns from residents about possible ‘gridlock’ on a Finchampstead road will be addressed, according to the council’s lead member responsible for planning.
Councillor Charles Margetts noted plans for two Special Educational Needs Disability (SEND) schools, a solar farm and a Covid memorial woodland on Barkham Ride.
He also pointed out there are also current planning applications for close to 100 houses to be built on a site on the same stretch of road.
He said: “Barkham Ride is a narrow secondary road.
“At the junction with Commonfield Lane, a car driver has to stop if a bus or lorry is coming the other way as the road is not wide enough for two lines of traffic.”
He asked what work is planned to improve Barkham ride to manage this additional traffic?
Cllr Lindsay Ferris replied, saying that any impacts of a proposed development on the highway and traffic is an important consideration in the planning application process.
He said: “Mitigation is requested where it is necessary to make the? Development, acceptable in planning terms.
“The proposals for the SEND schools are not yet subject to a formal planning application, and a transport assessment will be prepared and considered in association.”
He pointed out that for the schools and the solar farm, the council is also the construction client.
“This heightens our ability to manage and coordinate construction activities to help minimise the impact constructions as far as possible.”
