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David Wilson Homes has unveiled its latest designs for the 650-home Buckhurst Farm development
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Traffic remains an issue for Buckhurst Farm plan

By Jon Nurse
December 14, 2012

Renewed concerns over traffic were raised when detailed plans for Buckhurst Farm were revealed to neighbours.

David Wilson Homes unveiled its latest designs for the 650-home development in London Road, at The Cornerstone in Norreys Avenue last Wednesday.

The public exhibition featured the scheme’s masterplan, main road, residential layout and open space, ahead of a detailed planning application for the project’s initial phases due to be submitted by the end of this month.

Giuseppe Zanré, planning director of David Wilson Homes’ southern division, said: “We were very pleased with our event, which was attended by more than 150 residents.

“We will consider the views made to my team, as we move towards finalising our Reserved Matters planning applications for the first stretch of Buckhurst Boulevard, and the first 150 homes to the south of London Road.”

Chris and Sue French of Froghall Drive, which neighbours Buckhurst Farm, accept the houses need to be built but shared some concerns at the exhibition.

“It’s going to affect us severely,” Mr French said.

“Cars are queuing along London Road already and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

“The primary school seems to be right on the main road which seems odd.

“Young children don’t have much road sense.

“I’d think building the school first would have been a better idea to take overspill from other schools.”

Buckhurst Boulevard will be the main road through the site and the ﬁrst phase of the future Southern Distributor Road (SDR) that will extend west to link with the Tesco roundabout in Finchampstead Road.

Council officers estimate 1,400 cars will use the SDR during peak hours in the morning and 1,100 cars during peak evening times in 2026.

Ash Partridge, 53, of Tudor Close, added: “This main road seems to be described as a quiet road through an estate and also a distributor road – I don’t think you can have both.”

The development, which was approved by Wokingham Borough Council in April, will be the first phase in a 2,500 home development.

Next year contractors will work on the site’s infrastructure with the first house sales being in spring 2014 and the development finished in 2020.

Priest Avenue Residents’ Association (PARA) has campaigned against the development and presented a petition to the borough council in September.

Bob Gunn, PARA chairman, used the exhibition to ask what was being done to defend against flooding.

“With the recent rains, Clay Lane has again flooded and water has been pouring off the Buckhurst Farm site,” he said. “We are now even more convinced there is a significant flood run-off risk to properties in Priest Avenue.”

The display boards from the exhibition can be seen at www.buckhurstpark.com

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Usual response by Cllr Keith Baker. When are the roads going to be built is it after the new development has been built? Roads being built through green land which I think you would find your bosses (i.e the electorate who you act on behalf of by the way)

On schools, you seem to have missed my important point that as a council you should have seen the bulge in the school intake coming 5 years ago. why did you not do anything then? Is this the same maths that you used when you decided that 855 of Wokingham support your abortion of a plan that is to completely rape pillage and destroy Elms field which actually no-one wants.

You will not be satisfied until you turn Wokingham into Bracknell will you. Merry Christmas and I sincerely hope your New Years resolution is to actually open your ears and eyes and realise that the majority of Wokingham do not think the council are doing a good job (my original comments about you taking your head out of your bottom were not allowed)

wokeyblokey
27/12/2012 at 13:36

Cllr Baker, please point out on the map where you live in relation to these developments, in particular this development.

http://www.warag.org/google-earth-map

I would imagine that the "local" people who experience traffic every hour of every day have a good understanding of the actual facts.

That part of Wokingham is gridlock most morning and evenings with traffic moving at around 4mph. What effect do you think about 5000 more cars will have, even if they build the "bypass" or whatever you are calling it.

Local Woky, Wokingham
27/12/2012 at 08:43

Smiffy - I think you tread a fine line suggesting developers get their way because the council needs the money. If that was the case the council would not have refused Kentwood Farm and Shinfield West and forced it to go to appeal. Unfortunately Inspectors and the secretary of State overturned our ruling.

wokeyblokey - your comments are not backed by the evidence. On traffic the developers do recognise the impact which is why they are contributing millions for the road network. On schools every one of the 4 key development locations have new schools being built and funded by the developers.

PoneRaney - developers can say anything they want to it does not mean that their word is gospel. The only time things cannot be changed is when an application has been approved, either by the council or by a planning inspector.

Cllr Keith Baker
22/12/2012 at 09:33

I cannot understand the blind stupidity that seems to emanate from Wokingham Council. I have to drive to various parts of the UK as part of my job and have found that for the last 10 years or so that if I leave home, which is near the Ford Garage on Finchampstead Road, after 0715 hrs that the road is at a standstill. How is that these people haven't noticed this problem as well? Perhaps they get out of bed at a later hour when the blockage has cleared!

point out the obvious, Wokingham
20/12/2012 at 15:14

Don't worry because the majority of Wokingham wont comment on here so by the councils misguided use of logic, there will be absolute overwhelming support for another disgraceful rape of what makes (and in 10 years time once the council have got their way made) Wokingham a wonderful place to leave, open green spaces.

Traffic issues, don't worry the developers will see to it that the surveys carried out will be strangely proven to show that there will be no impact on the congested roads around Wokingham. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if it actually eases congestion.

School catchments? that's all taken care of. The bulge will creep up on the Council like a middle aged mans stomach and then they will panic, promise new schools and nothing will happen.

Other Green spaces? Well sure there plenty more where those came from.

wokeyblokey
17/12/2012 at 17:05

If you attend any of these developers exhibitions and attempt to discuss any of the main issues that are worrying people you will be met with one response. "These issues are not open to change because they have already been agreed with the council".

PoneRana, Wokingham
17/12/2012 at 15:06

Cllr Keith Baker - whilst I accept this was only a developers exhibition, past experience tells most of us that they will get there way in the end as money talks and the council needs money at the moment.

Smiffy, Reading
17/12/2012 at 11:56

'We will continue to negotiate with the developers on the things we need which include cycle ways etc'

So where are the complete on-road cycle lanes on all A Roads leading from Wokingham? You have to give people the opportunity to get out of their cars.

Paul Daniels' reattached finger.
17/12/2012 at 10:16

What use is a public park that can only be reached by most current Wokingham residents by using their cars. The Buckhurst Farm area is currently used by many local residents as a dog walking area. It is one of the few places where a dog can be let of the leash to run.

For myself and many others who use this area the proposed new park will be too far away to be practical. What currently is a five minute walk will become a ten minute drive that is unaffordable fourteen times a week.

PoneRana, Wokingham
16/12/2012 at 00:15

May I remind everyone on here it was a developers exhibition and not one from the Council. This does not necessarily reflect the councils views so the constant attack on the council is totally misplaced.

We will continue to negotiate with the developers on the things we need which include cycle ways etc. Things like the public park has already been approved in the outline application which is extremely large.

Cllr Keith Baker
15/12/2012 at 18:25

The Buckhurst Farm development is an ideal opportunity to create a cycle route into the town from that direction. There is however little indication that the council have considered these possibilities.

PoneRana, Wokingham
15/12/2012 at 14:24

Paul, I think to call their decisions foolishness is to be too kind to them; they know what they're doing, and why; and it's not for us.

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
14/12/2012 at 12:43

Houses = Tax revenue = Discussion over. These fools can't even paint a white line on an A road to create a cycle lane.

Paul Daniels' reattached finger.
14/12/2012 at 12:32

Surely the first thing to be done after the roads have been put in place should be the creation of the new public park to replace the amenities that this and other planned developments around the town are about to destroy.

PoneRana, Wokingham
14/12/2012 at 11:54

For three hours every working day (of course, no one comes to Wokingham for their weekend shopping - yet), the town centre is at a standstill. Delivery vans illegally unloading don't help.

This problem has existed for years - possibly decades? - and a ring-road has been mooted for just as long. Of course, if you sell off a big chunk of land to a housing developer it makes it easier to pay for the road. But like most developments in Wokingham that I've heard about, it seems that our council's mantra is 'what earns us the most money in the short-term' as opposed to 'what is best for Wokingham'.

It makes me wonder sometimes whether our elected representatives are motivated to serve us, or to serve someone else; developers or themselves. I hate feeling that way.