FEARS roads could become more dangerous were the driving force behind councillors’ decision to throw out proposals to build a new home at the back of a popular Italian restaurant last week. 

The four-bedroom house would have been built at the rear of Winkfield Row’s Don Beni eatery but was emphatically refused after it was claimed this plan would likely make highways less safe. 

READ MORE: Don Beni restaurant home plan divides neighbours

This is because adding the home would reduce the number of parking spaces at the restaurant to 21, making it more likely cars would park on the road with fewer bays laid out for customers, councillors and residents agreed. 

A Mr Taylor, who told councillors on Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee he lived opposite the car park, suggested there was a gap between the idea and the reality of the plan. 

He said: “My concern about the parking is if marked out, it is in theory capable of coping with the halving of the site. 

“In practice, I don’t think that is going to happen. 

“People are going to park in the road. 

“In theory, it’s a big tick for the parking, but in practice, I don’t think you will ever get 22 cars in that new car park.”

READ MORE: Ten new homes to replace former restaurant

Planning officers had recommended the plan should be approved despite the council’s own highways boss objecting to the proposal. 

This is because an initial plan for two three-bedroom homes at the site was dismissed on appeal, but the Planning Inspectorate suggested the space behind Don Beni could accommodate 22 car parking spaces. 

Therefore the proposed 21 spaces were only one less than required by the Planning Inspectorate, meaning BFC planning officers had to consider whether the harm caused by the reduction in parking spaces would justify refusing the application. 

The final decision was handed to BFC’s planning committee, however, after 13 residents sent in letters voicing their opposition to the designs. 

READ MORE: Decision made on exciting plans to bring this restaurant back to Bracknell

No councillors backed the officer’s recommendation, which led to a councillor proposing the plan should be thrown out instead. 

The committee got behind this new suggestion to refuse the proposal unanimously at a meeting on Thursday, July 16.