Time is running out to have your say on the two planning applications – public consultation closes this Friday, 5th December. If you are still considering what to write, here is a list of questions or queries that other members have raised that may help you with your thoughts.

Flooding

• Both applications are not joined up so water flow from one part of the development could affect the other.
• SUDs: how are these to be managed? Are they to be managed and maintained by WBC? This is not included in the planning applications.
• Both sites are built on London Clay and so water does not drain away easily and could result in surface water.

Arborfield Garrison planning application O/2014/2280: Is there enough space to build 2000 houses given the flood areas?

Hogwood Farm planning application O/2014/2179: No detail is given in the planning application on where the flooding may occur. It is not possible to know if houses are to be built on the flood areas or whether there is sufficient remaining land to build 1500 houses.

Transport

Both applications talk about sustainable transport but neither application backs this up with details of how this will be achieved i.e. how are they going to encourage us all to walk, cycle or use the bus or train?

Public transport: The planning applications propose to increase the Number 3 bus to run every 20 minutes to Wokingham. Is this sufficient to cater for 3500 extra houses? What bus routes should be introduced? Should there be fast routes to Reading, Wokingham, Crowthorne or Twyford stations? What other routes should be introduced to help reduce traffic in peak times?

Arborfield Garrison Planning Application

• Proposed junction with Biggs Lane and Langley Common Road. Does this make sense?
• Should the roundabout at Langley Common Road onto A327 be kept?
• Should Barkham Bridge be widened? (No plan to widen it in the planning application)
• How will the Bull at Barkham/ Barkham Ride roundabout cope with the increased traffic?
• How will Barkham Road/ Bearwood Road cope with the increased traffic?
• Should Commonfield Lane be closed to traffic?
• When will the Arborfield Relief Road be built?
• How are children from outside the SDL to reach the secondary school?

Hogwood Farm Planning Application

• California Crossroads: Are you happy with the proposals to make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to the junction as opposed to just cars?
• What should happen to Park Lane and White Horse Lane?
• Is a cycle lane at the back of California Country Park a viable option for children to get to the secondary school?
• What extra traffic will be generated from the secondary school?
• Should there be a cycle lane down Nine Mile Ride?
• Why are there no bridleways in the application? How can cyclists travel from outside the SDL into it?
• Should the junction between Nine Mile Ride/Park Lane/ Nine Mile Ride Extension be a straight road from Nine Mile Ride into the development?

Secondary School (AG Application)

• Is it in the right place, next to the District Centre?
• What will happen if the AGLC planning application is not approved in March 2015? Can the secondary school still be ready to open in September 2016?
• What mode of transport will pupils use to get to school?

Design

• Both applications claim their designs are based on the Garden City principles. They list these principles but don’t explain how they can be achieved.
• There is no overarching theme for the two applications such as road design, parking etc to ensure the two developments marry together as one village.
• Hogwood Farm: Is the district centre too large as WBC saw it as being a small neighbour centre and not competing with the main district centre?
• Hogwood Farm: Should houses be built right up to the boundary of Park Lane? Will there be a distinction between Finchampstead and the new development?