‘Greening-up’ of London Road Industrial Estate begins this week as parking spaces make way for green spaces

Work to make the London Road Industrial Estate more ‘green’ starts this week – by planting up under-used parking spaces.

West Berkshire Council says it is about to implement some “public realm improvements” on to Faraday Road on the newly-named Bond Riverside industrial estate.

“The purpose of the scheme, which is cost neutral to the council budget as it is fully grant funded, is to green-up along Faraday Road utilising parking spaces which are currently under utilised,” wrote Stuart Gourley (Lib Dem, Newbury Clayhill), who holds the environment portfolio.

“Some spaces will be replaced by permeable surface planted with hardy species of shrubs and some small trees, which will have the added benefit of attenuating some surface water – however this is not the main purpose of the scheme.

“The scheme was initially proposed by consultants Hemingway Design and Ardent, as part of the council’s efforts to improve the public realm of Bond Riverside as a location for investment and employment.”

Work was due to start on Monday (July 8) and continue until mid-August.

But local campaigner John Gotelee is sceptical.

“The fact that the council has refused us sight of the plans is one point and why is it taking six weeks?” he said.

“The Avison Young environmental report said that infiltration was not suitable on the LRIE and the ground under the estate is known to be polluted.

“Also I doubt they will last long with the HGVs parking at night in what spaces remain.”