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A three-storey care home could be built on countryside land near Crowthorne and Finchampstead if councillors vote to approve developers’ plans.
Dozens of residents oppose the plans – saying they break the council’s own rules – with an almost equal number supporting them.
Barchester Healthcare Ltd wants permission to build the 60-bed home for the elderly including people with dementia on Lower Wokingham Road. It would replace an existing detached building occupied by the AXLR8 software company.
Wokingham Borough Council planning officers have recommended that the councillors give the scheme the green light at a meeting on Wednesday, July 12.
But residents from 46 nearby homes have lodged formal objections. They say that the size of the new building would be out of keeping with the area, that it would cause parking problems, and that the speed of traffic on Lower Wokingham Road is dangerous to care home residents.
John Groom of Houston Way said: “Replacing a two-person home with a 60-bed business venture in countryside is a totally inappropriate increase in scale, mass and footprint.
“While the stated parking for 26 vehicles is bad enough, it is surely inadequate for a 60-bed facility providing specialised care round the clock.”
He added: “As people who have lived on this road for some years, we know it to be extremely busy, fast and dangerous. Add to this the increased traffic, along with what will be considerable road-user disruption due to the build, and the road will be even more of a menace.”
But the council has also received 45 comments and letters welcoming the prospect of a new care home.
Robert Saunders of Roman Ride said: “Increasing the availability of these types of services in the area will benefit the local area. Both of my parents had dementia when they died, my family found it very difficult to find care homes that provide this service.
“I believe this is an excellent location for a care home. It is close to the green space Simon’s Wood and provides opportunities for families to go for walks with their relatives.”
Council officers say the plans would break policy preventing development in the countryside, but the harm to the local area would be limited as there is already a building on the site, and that council policy supports plans for new homes.
