Dispute over bypass plans

Adam Hewitt • Published 9 Sep 2010 09:30 5 Comments

See also:

CROSS-BORDER disputes bubbling in the background have been thrust into the open over controversial plans for a bypass and thousands of homes.

Reading Borough Council is recommending that its planning committee objects to the planned Shinfield relief road and the housing proposals by Reading University because of the huge amount of extra traffic that would end up using Reading’s roads - at least an extra 42% in rush hour on the A327 Shinfield Road, according to one analysis.

The final say rests with Wokingham Borough Council, because the development is all within its boundaries, but Reading can send its objections as an interested party.

Reading planning officers also recommend objecting because it says Wokingham council’s plans for secondary schools will mean places for pupils living in East and South-East Reading will be “severely squeezed”.

Wokingham borough is reviewing its admissions system because some of its secondary schools' designated areas are "completely illogical", but has provoked a backlash from East Reading parents whose children may lose out on places at desirable Maiden Erlegh. The council is asking parents for feedback on the ideas, suggested after an independent review.

Reading has no secondary school in the East of the borough, thanks to decisions made by the former Berkshire County Council.

The Shinfield housing and bypass application is on the agenda at Reading's next planning meeting, on Wednesday, September 15 at 6.30pm at the civic centre. Anyone can attend.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 17 Sep 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Jonno99
Unregistered User
Sep 11, 19:18
Report comment

Extend Reading's boundaries. It's the only way. Knock back the council boundaries for both Newbury and Wokingham. And take a slice from South Oxfordshire to build the third bridge

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Howard Thomas
Unregistered User
Sep 14, 00:04
Report comment

What exactly is this 'Shinfield relief road' ? Any ideas?

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Adam Hewitt
Unregistered User
Sep 14, 09:28
Report comment

The application is here, Howard: http://tinyurl.com/26ooemz

You can also see it in the diagram above, it's the thick black line leading from Arborfield Road to the Black Boy roundabout, bypassing Shinfield.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
a concerned resident
Unregistered User
Sep 14, 09:59
Report comment

Please see www.shinfield-residents-action-group.com for all details around objecting to this inappropriate and grossly unfair urbanisation of Shinfield. Your support is needed.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
RichV
Unregistered User
Sep 14, 14:35
Report comment

Relief Road? What a joke! This so called 'relief road' is a key aspect of a proposal that will add an extra 42% of traffic at peak times on to the A327 ... bit of a contradiction in terms there to say the least! They'll be precious little 'relief' if this thing ever gets built!

The planned route of this 'relief road' is ridiculous too, as it merely loops round to join what is already a 'bottle-neck' near the 'Black Boy' pub, due to the single carriageway M4 bridge.

The proposed additional bridge over the M4 linking the 'relief road' with the 'Black Boy roundabout' would also not solve the problem of the congestion resulting from the extra 42% of traffic on the A327! Much of the existing problem of congestion of course, stems from the sheer volume of traffic heading into Reading towards Shinfield Rise along the single carriageway A327. Short of widening the road, this problem will remain!

The fact is, it's quite clear that the proposed 'relief road' is designed purely to facilitate the new proposed development, in particular the 'science park' or industrial/business estate as it really should be known! The intention is also to open up the flood plain of the River Loddon east of Shinfield, for extensive further development, ... Reading University have been trying to do this for decades!

Consequently without the proposed development, there's really no need for a relief road east of Shinfield!

Frankly, you only have to look at the map in the article above to see that it's pretty obvious that the logical route for a relief road would branch off south from the Shinfield/Arborfield road (A327) near the 'Magpie and Parrot', bypass Shinfield to the south, cross Hyde End road (B3349) and then head northwest cutting across open fields to link directly with junction 11.

It's so blatantly obvious that this would be the best route for a relief road, that I can't believe the road planning department hasn't considered it and liased with the people developing junction 11 ... a lack of 'joined-up' thinking ... or in this case 'joined up' roads!

The current proposal of course is a total nonsense, ... and should be rejected once and for all!

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle