A NEW supermarket is set to be built on Winnersh floodplains after councillors approved the proposal – however, as it is planned for a floodplain, it could be blocked by the government.
The company is to create the store on land on Gazelle Close, off Reading Road and behind the retail park that houses Halfords, Pets at Home, and Wickes. It will be their third store in the borough, following the opening of branches in Earley and Wokingham.
Safety fears were one of the issues raised during the discussions, with members of the planning committee feared extra traffic the Aldi store would bring could increase the chances of accidents at the junction.
Cllr Michael Firmager refused to back the plans, over concerns that drivers exiting the retail park can only turn left on to Reading Road, crossing a cycle lane.
Residents say the banned right turn is often ignored by motorists.
Cllr Firmager said he couldn’t vote to approve the plans unless they included new safety measures at the junction. He said: “I want to vote for this. I’m struggling to do so simply because of that junction.
“We are going to create horrendous accidents on there. I could envisage seeing deaths on there, particularly with cyclists. I don’t want blood on my hands.”
Other councillors asked if council officers had considered requiring Aldi to install extra safety measures at the junction as part of the plans, including a traffic island to stop right turns, and traffic lights.
An engineer from the council’s highways team said five different suggestions had been considered – and none would work.
These included a right turn lane on to Reading Road, a lane for cars turning off Reading Road into Gazelle Close, a mini roundabout and traffic signals. It was felt these would cause additional issues, including queuing.
Council officers said they did not believe the extra traffic would have an “unacceptable impact” on road safety – and so the plans couldn’t be refused on those grounds.
They also said they accepted Aldi’s measures to deal with the fact that it will be built on a floodplain: the Environment Agency said the supermarket shouldn’t be built as the site risks being flooded if the nearby River Loddon overflows.
But Wokingham Borough Council planning officers say the shop’s drainage plans are acceptable. They say most of the floodplain will be taken up by the new car park, and the shop will be raised above. Councillors didn’t question this.
Despite this, the flood risk means government minister Michael Gove must be given the chance to consider the plans himself – and potentially block them – before they can go ahead.
Councillors approved the plan when they met on Wednesday, December 13.
