The mother of a 22-year-old wheelchair user has highlighted the difficulties her son struggles with trying to be safely independent in his home village.
It means Ted Barnard cannot on his own visit his grandmother living in the middle of Hurst, a 25-minute walk from his home.
His mum, teacher Sarah Barnard, told a planning inquiry into 200 new homes in Hurst that they would be unsuitable and unsustainable for people with mobility issues.
She said: “My son struggles to safely have any independent mobility within the village, although he is a proficient driver of his power chair.
“This is due to the lack of dropped curbs, and absence of [many] pavements, meaning he would need to drive along sections of busy road with fast traffic, including the A321, and Church Hill to access the shop, pubs, church and other properties.
“He is not able to safely leave the village unaided as, toward Twyford, he would need to cross the A321 at least three times, on each occasion negotiating inadequate dropped curbs and … pavement too narrow for him to use.
“To the south, there is no pavement to Winnersh.”
She added: “It is not possible for my son to use the bus service, as the narrow pavements, and … absence of pavements, mean he is not able to safely manoeuvre his wheelchair on or off the bus.
“Without access to Twyford or Winnersh, he is unable to use the rail service. He is also unable to independently access the doctor’s surgery, supermarkets or other amenities in Twyford or Winnersh.
“These challenges would apply equally to all those with mobility issues, as well as to parents with children in pushchairs … attempting to manage without a car.
“According to the Family Resources Survey (2020-21), there are 14.6 million disabled people in the UK … It is therefore reasonable to assume that a significant number of residents in any new development would have a disability.”
She added this week: “We love Hurst, we choose to live here, but it is not sustainable or accessible for anyone without a car.”
The appeal inspector will decide whether the homes scheme for land between Tape Lane and Lodge Road should go ahead. The hearing continues.
