Residents walked out in anger as councillors decided not to block plans for another housing development on a ‘narrow country lane.’
Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee approved plans to build 26 homes at 31 Barkham Ride just outside Finchampstead. It comes after the committee approved another 56 homes just one plot down at 33 Barkham Ride in March.
Residents argued that both sites together would increase traffic on the road far beyond that which is safe.
Barkham Ride resident Jeremy Smith told the committee: “Peak traffic along Barkham Ride already makes it very difficult to access the road and many of us have had multiple near misses driving out into busy traffic.
“This situation already poses significant dangers to school children and elderly walkers crossing Barkham Ride to reach the Bridleway to California Country Park.”
He said it was ‘ludicrous’ for the council to consider the two housing developments at 31 and 33 Barkham Ride separately. But council planning officers explained that they had to do this as they are separate applications and must consider each one on its own merits.
However they said they did consider the ‘cumulative impact’ of traffic on the road from the developments, and still did not believe the increase would be too high.
Planning agent Jo Tasker told the committee she had worked with council officers ‘for many months’ to meet the council’s ‘exacting requirements’ including on highway safety.
She added that the development would also bring developments to the borough, including ten of the new homes provided as affordable housing. And she said the developers would contribute money to the council for new public open space.
The council’s planning committee considered the plans on Wednesday June 12. Councillor Sam Akhtar proposed that it refuse the application. Residents watching the meeting left in anger after he lost the vote.
Four councillors – Wayne Smith, Stuart Munro, Sam Akhtar and Greg Bello all voted in favour of refusing the plans. But four councillors – Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey, Martijn Andrea, Carol Jewell and Andy Ng Siu-Hong – voted against this.
Councillor Moses Iyengunmwena was not allowed to vote as he was out of the room when officers began presenting the plans to the committee.
As chair of the committee, councillor Jewell cast the deciding vote against refusing the application.
The committee then held another vote to refuse the plans, with councillors Shepherd-DuBey, Andrea, Jewell and Ng Siu-Hong in favour, and councillors Smith, Munro, Akhtar and Bello against. It meant the plans were approved by the committee.
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