SHINFIELD residents attended a public consultation on Saturday to discuss two key areas of the village’s future.
Members of Shinfield Parish Council and the University of Reading presented proposals on traffic and sports and recreation facilities, while receiving feedback.
Traffic proposals focused on reducing congestion within the village while leisure plans included six sports pitches close to Shinfield West Pavilion, increased provision at Millworth Lane Recreation Ground, allotments, a growing garden and an outdoor learning area.
Parish clerk Bruce Winton was full of praise for the event’s success. He said: “It’s been absolutely brilliant, we’ve had a great attendance. The purpose of the consultation from our point of view is to properly listen and learn.
“We have ideas which we’ve worked up into what we think are reasonable proposals, but that’s what they are, proposals.
“As a parish, we don’t operate in isolation. I’ve been chatting to a couple of councillors who have come up from Swallowfield because addressing an issue that affects us, will also benefit them.
“So it’s about working together, and with Wokingham Borough Council, not against them, to identify the problems and find practical solutions.”
He added that consulting with stakeholders will continue to play an important role as plans progress, with the parish council keen to maintain open dialogue with residents.
Cllr Laurence James, the parish council’s vice chairman, is determined to solve issues residents have faced with traffic recently.
He said: “We’ve had people attend who have a vested interest in getting the traffic problems right. I think they’ve put houses here without thinking about the internal communications and we’ve still got lots of traffic transitioning through the village when it should be using the major arterial routes around it.
“We need to slow the traffic down within the village to make it safer and healthier, and force it back on the roads they should be using. That’s what all these proposals here are for.”
Cllr James expressed the parish council’s commitment to ensuring plans are sustainable and environmentally-friendly, saying the ultimate goal was to reduce the number of cars used in the village.
He encouraged residents to consider using the 17 miles of paths and cycleways Shinfield has to offer.
The two consultations took place in separate rooms at the School Green Centre and were attended by hundreds of residents, sports team representatives and councillors.
Visitors included the University of Reading’s vice-chancellor Robert Van de Noort and Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for active travel, transport and highways.
Some residents expressed their concerns about the impact sports sites will have on the village’s biodiversity and nature, as well as adding to Shinfield’s traffic.
Cllr Ian Clarke, chair of the parish council’s recreation and amenities committee, sympathised with people who wanted to preserve nature within the village.
He said Shinfield’s current sports and leisure provision can no longer accommodate the increasing number of residents wanting to participate in sports.
“We’ve got between 2,000 and 2,500 people who want to play just football,” he Cllr Clarke explained.
“We only have one 3G pitch at Ryeish Green and it’s overused. It’s costing local clubs, Spencers Wood and Shinfield, £40,000 each year to use. We’ve got more people, but don’t have the facilities.”
He added that decisions made now would have an impact on future generations and stressed the importance of establishing provision for a growing number of women and girls in sport.
Molli Cleaver, the university’s community relations manager, said: “We are working with Shinfield Parish Council to ensure the views of residents are helping to shape the future of sport and recreation in Shinfield. The University is committed to proactively engaging with the community and I hope the consultation was one way in which we are demonstrating this commitment.
“We look forward to reviewing and providing a full response to the feedback and continuing to listen to residents as the proposals are developed. We are proud to be working with the Parish Council to enhance the provision for sports and recreation in Shinfield.”
Residents who were unable to attend the consultation meetings can still have their say by completing an online questionnaire, visit: www.shinfieldparish.gov.uk
