Plans for a new modern health centre and church in Whitley Wood have received a mixed response from the community.
Church parishes have been working with a local GP consortium to develop plans for the new medical centre and church on Whitley Wood Road.
The proposal, which seeks planning permission to demolish St. Paul’s Church and two neighbouring houses on Whitley Wood Lane and provide health and church centres, a community space, café and two flats, was unveiled last week.
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One set of neighbours are not at all happy with the plans, raising a series of concerns.
The two neighbours, who live together, said “many summers have been ruined” because of the church using the hall “like a fast food outlet, open all hours for lettings, loud parties and disrespectful users”.
They have also complained about door-slamming cars and loud music coming from cars using the car park, stating “there has been a total disregard to any neighbours nearby”.
Concerns were also raised that more traffic will increase problems at an “already dangerous” junction.
One of the two neighbours, John Huntley, left praise for the design of the new church but hit out at the health centre design, calling it “big and ugly” and “like a prison block”.
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Others have wholeheartedly backed the proposal.
Claire Bankole, a youth & community worker based in south Reading, said the plans will help to serve the young people and community of Whitley Wood “very well”, while Helen Wintet said it would be a “an excellent resource to build community”.
Joan Walker said: “This area is in need of a health facility and this plan is a comprehensive one demonstrating how the church can help the community with regard to physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
“The plan is sympathetic to existing nearby residential properties whilst it will provide essential facilities for residents of the newer developments in the area.”
Debbie Cowen added: “This is very much needed for this often-forgotten pocket of Whitley.
“The current health facilities are inadequate for the amount of patients they serve.”
Vernon Orr, who worked in Whitley Wood for 17 years before moving to Oxford, said Whitley Wood has been neglected for decades and “now is the time” for a “much-needed” health centre, café and community facilities.
Whitley councillor Micky Leng has backed the proposal but has acknowledged concerns from residents.
He said: “This is a much-needed facility that will benefit our growing community in Whitley by providing access to vital health services.
“Of course, I do appreciate that some residents will have concerns about the proposed development, and I’m committed to working with my colleagues to address issues through the planning application process.”
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The new Health Centre will include full GP and nursing services, as well as space for minor operations, joint injections, blood tests, counselling, physiotherapy and more.
This will reduce the need for local residents to attend the Royal Berks Hospital for these services.
The three-storey centre has been planned in close collaboration with the Berkshire West CCG and aims to provide for the current population’s needs as well as expected population growth in the area in the next five-to-ten years.
Interim vicar Kirstie Dolphin said: “The CCG have guided this development to make sure that it fits in with their short and long-term plans.
“The new facility will future proof the area and provide the Whitley patients the opportunity to benefit from services that will enhance their health and social care needs.
“It will help facilitate better access 7 days a week and provide more enhanced health services to be delivered closer to the patients’ home.”
St Paul’s church, on Whitley Wood Lane, has been a spiritual and pastoral centre for the local community since 1911.
It currently hosts a disabled day care group, soft play area, the St Paul’s congregation and a Nigerian fellowship, as well as one-off events such as the Whitley Wood Funday.
The church says the current building has now reached the end of its life and needs replacing as it leaks leaking and is not well insulated, making it very expensive to heat.
Rather than simply replace the church building with another one, church members searched for a “more exciting redevelopment” to combine worship with expanding community services.
Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee should vote on the plans sometime later this year.
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