Reading vs Wokingham war of words

Adam Hewitt • Published 10 Oct 2008 17:00 0 Comments

CROSS-BOUNDARY bitterness means Wokingham is pretending that Reading does not even exist, councillors say.

Reading Borough Council wants changes made to its neighbour's Core Strategy document outlining development plans for the next 20 years, because it ignores the effect the projects will have on Reading's transport and schools.

At Monday's Cabinet meeting, Reading's deputy council leader Tony Page said: "When we had the excitement and debate over the one-way IDR proposal, Wokingham were very insistent that the proposed impact on them should be taken into account, and they went to litigation. We should expect some reciprocity. They need to recognise the impact their proposals will have on Reading."

He said the document read as if everything stopped at Wokingham borough's own boundaries.

RBC's report said: "The Core Strategy should describe the role of Wokingham borough in contributing to the functioning and future development of Greater Reading and its role in supporting Reading as a regional hub."

It also lists specific concerns about the thousands of homes earmarked for Shinfield and for Arborfield Garrison, saying that many of the people moving to the new homes will end up working or going to school in Reading and driving into the borough, but that the Core Strategy ignores this.

But Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) spokeswoman Alana Razzell said: "Many of the concerns raised by RBC's cabinet have already been, or are due to be, considered by WBC.

"The development location south of the M4 has been carefully considered with regard to school places. Our projections show that we can provide the anticipated secondary places with the provision of eight schools of between 1,200-1,500 places in the borough.

"WBC commissioned a full transport model to support the Core Strategy and this has taken account of any likely impact upon transport in Reading Borough."

She said public transport links to the new development at Arborfield Garrison and the science park would be carefully planned.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 10 Oct 08

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