Anger over 197 Elvian new homes
Maxwell Kusi Obodum • Published 19 Feb 2012 18:00
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FURIOUS neighbours are drawing up battle plans after developers unveiled proposals for nearly 200 homes on the grounds of a former independent school.
Housing giant Taylor Wimpey is preparing a planning application for 197 flats and houses on the site, between Bath Road and Southcote Lane, occupied by the Elvian School until its closure in summer 2010.
The company, which revealed its plans at a public exhibition last Thursday, wants to build a mixture of one to four-bedroom units on the brownfield site and convert the Oakland Hall and Rotherfield Grange buildings - which housed boarders in the days when it was Presentation College - into apartments.
But neighbour Alan Hawkins, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, has slammed the developers for proposing to put the site's main entrance in Southcote Lane, and said: "The infrastructure is already creaking at the seams under the strain.
"Southcote Lane is already a rat run and it's sometimes impossible to get out your house onto the road. The thought of all those people coming down here is unthinkable and unsustainable. It's going to be a nightmare."
Dave Warren, from Hatford Road, said: "There's already concern about the traffic and speeding and people are even putting 30mph stickers on their bins. I know people need to have homes but we just don't have the facilities for another 200 houses."
Reading Mayor and Southcote councillor Deborah Edwards said: "There hasn't been enough consideration of the pressure it's going to cause."
But Taylor Wimpey spokesman Ed O'Mara [corr] said: "We are confident our proposed development will fulfil a recognised need for high-quality housing in the area and complement and enhance the local community."
In autumn 2009 Reading Borough Council rejected an application from Elvian owners the The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) to modernise the school and create a racquet club and 95 homes on the playing fields after neighbours complained it would exacerbate traffic problems and swallow up open space.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 17 Feb 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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G O D
Unregistered User
Feb 20, 14:22
Report commentWith lax immigration and a rising population this is just the tip of the iceberg. You can lay the blame solely at Labour's last 'turn' and the current lot's weak willed approach to tackling the issue...
Recommend?
Yes 14
No 3
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reading_gal
Unregistered User
Feb 24, 15:51
Report commentI live on Southcote Lane, a stone's throw from the old Elvian School. In my opinion the contributors to the article are exaggerating a bit about the 'problems' in the area. Traffic is usually busy but not unmanageable, certainly nowhere near 'impossible'. Pedestrian crossings are well-marked, evenly spaced and easy to access. I can always get my car out easily, quickly and safely even during peak times.
Recommend? Yes 4
No 3
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roedeer
Unregistered User
Mar 6, 17:42
Report commentThe traffic on Tilehurst Road coming into town in the morning is already bad
Traffic has to queue to let cars out of Southcote Rd onto Tilehurst RD
this development wil only make it worse
Recommend? Yes 1
No 1
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E6EK6
Unregistered User
Apr 20, 09:44
Report commentI used to be at the school. The Council actually refused planning permission due to the fact to much traffic and congestion would be caused on the bath road! Yet it's perfectly all right for another 200 houses to be built!!
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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