Published: Thursday, 6th August, 2009 7:00am

Traffic fears voiced at Elvian meeting

by Rose Harland

Cllr Deborah Edwards and Cllr John Ennis with residents at the meeting.

NEIGHBOURS and commuters fear plans for 100 homes and a sports club would bring traffic to a standstill.

The Chronicle joined 50 residents at a public meeting organised by ward councillors on Tuesday night to discuss plans for Southcote's Elvian School, including a new three-storey block to double pupil numbers to 400.

Despite the increase in pupils the scheme involves losing the playing fields which stretch from Bath Road to Southcote Lane.

Southcote Lane resident Mike Dowell said: "Many of the pupils don't come from locally. It is a nonsense to suggest that they would be coming to the site from Reading West station. They will come by car."

Another man queried: "What is the allocation of parking? Mostly one per property. We all know that there are usually at least two cars per property. Where are they going to put 200 cars? They are going to go into the side roads."

The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC), which took over the school in 2004, plans to demolish the Victorian mansions, Oakland Hall and Rotherfield Grange to create space for the new school building.

The entrance to a proposed David Lloyd Leisure racquets club on the site - for pupils and members - would also be from Bath Road. Entry to the flats and houses would be from Southcote Lane.

Cllr Deborah Edwards told the meeting the playing fields may have to be levelled and said: "If they don't bring it down to road level, the development is all going to be so much higher and overshadow what we have in Southcote Lane."

Cllr John Ennis advised neighbours: "If you want to object, you can't just say, 'I don't like it because the view is not nice'. Planning committees deal in detail - with the traffic, the height and other specifics."

LTC spokeswoman Anna Sabine yesterday (Wednesday) invited comments through the council and said: "We have held a number of robust public consultations, including exhibitions in December."

Write to Reading Borough Council, Civic Centre, Reading, RG1 7AE, before Friday, August 14. View plan no. 09/01184/OUT at www.reading.gov.uk

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