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THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
Thursday, July 28, 2022 No. 374 90p
Rose Street road survey launched By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM Borough Council is consulting on changes to a trafficrestricted road in the town centre.
Rose Street, which restricts vehicles travelling towards the town centre with a 6ft 6in gap, is to be reviewed as part of a plan to “enhance the street scene”. It is also hoped the changes will “improve accessibility for both pedestrians and vehicles”. The proposal suggests removing the existing traffic island, which reduces the width of the carriageway, and replacing it with kerb build-outs on both sides of the road. This would also include raising the section of the road between the buildouts, to create a speed-bump style section and would join the kerb with the roadside. The single lane would then be marked with priority signs, with priority given to those driving into Rose Street from Broad Street. And the 6ft 6in restriction would remain — but in the middle of the road. A consultation for the same road was put to residents and businesses directly impacted by the changes two years ago. A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council said: “In 2020, we consulted with affected residents and businesses and modified the scheme since then. “The 2020 consultation was undertaken to understand what impacts our proposal may have on residents, to help shape the design. “Once this consultation is complete any comments will be considered and, if a decision is made to continue, measures will be programmed for construction.” A survey for residents’ comments is online now. n For more information, or to take the survey, visit: engage.wokingham.gov.uk
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SIMPLY MARVELLOUS: Music festival feturns • p6
FEARS OVER ‘DESTRUCTIVE’ HOMES PLAN
MARMALADE DELIGHTS PUB P11
VILLAGE HOLDS FUN MUSIC EVENT P3
Campaign launched against proposals
EXCLUSIVE By DANIEL BLACKHAM news@wokingham.today CAMPAIGNERS are taking action to stop a potential development in Evendons.
Last month Berkeley Homes, the developer, engaged in a public consultation with residents after it unveiled plans to build homes near Blagrove Lane in Wokingham. The development, called Blagrove
Meadows, would feature “around 375 energy efficient homes, with a mix of sizes and types, including 40% affordable properties”. Last week, Berkeley Homes submitted an official outline planning application to Wokingham Borough Council for “up to 350 homes, new access onto Barkham Road, community space and onsite Suitable Alternative Natural Green space (SANG). Residents in the area have described the proposals as “destructive”. Paul Tolan, a local resident working
on the Save our Blagrove Meadows campaign, said: “This area really is unspoilt countryside on the edge of Wokingham “Deer run everyday all the way into Newbury and these properties would push the wildlife out which is a real joy for local people. “During the pandemic people with access to outdoor areas felt huge benefits and I don’t think concreting over large areas of greenland is what we should be doing.” n Continued on page 2
ARTISTS’ WORK GOES ON SHOW P35 ISSN 2634-8330 30
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