Neighbours are pleading to planners not to let developers make a road junction “more dangerous than it already is”. 

Developers want to build a new house in Upper Basildon, with an access road leading onto Aldworth Road. 

But villagers have warned that this would be an “accident waiting to happen”, as it is too close to an already “unsafe” junction; which joins Maple Lane, Aldworth Road,  and Ashampstead Road. 

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The plans are to build a new four-bedroom house, between Maple Lane and Aldworth Road. The house would be two storeys and have parking space for three cars. 

One of the 10 people who wrote to West Berkshire Council objecting to the plans was David Perry, who said: “This is already a dangerous junction. 

“Vehicles regularly exceed the 30mph limit along this stretch of Aldworth Road, and I believe the proposed exit, with its poor sightlines in the direction of the junction, would greatly increase the risk of accidents.”

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Ben Oakley, also writing to the council, said: “The addition of an access so close to the corner and junction with Maple Lane is frankly an accident waiting to happen. 

“The access to my property is some 50 metres further down the road, and exiting can be dangerous at all times of the day due to the speed of passing traffic.”

Councillors on the eastern area planning committee are due to consider the application at a public meeting on March 11, when they will vote whether to approve planning permission. 

Sarah Melton, senior planning officer, is recommending that councillors give approval. In a report to the meeting, she said: “It has been demonstrated that the proposal scheme can demonstrate the required visibility splays, albeit at the loss of existing trees along the highway.”

Visibility splays are how wide you can see left and right, when approaching a junction from the smaller road.

But despite her recommendations, neighbours still raised further concerns, including about the safety of children.

Chloe Askwith, writing to the council, said: “This is a route used by children on their way to the primary school, by children on their way to the bus stops taking them to secondary schools, by the many families who walk around the village, and by families on the way to the church and pub. 

“Please do not make this junction more dangerous than it already is.”