Care facility plans recommended for approval

Controversial plans to build a new care facility at Monks Lane will be discussed by councillors tonight (Wednesday)

WITH nearby residents the only objectors, plans for a care facility for people with a variety of mental disabilities are expected to be given the green light by West Berkshire Council tonight (Wednesday).

Planning officers recommended approval of the development by healthcare firm Priory to build a £3.5 million 24-bed permanent care home in Monks Lane, Newbury, adjacent to Falkland Surgery, on land sold to it by Newbury Rugby Club on condition of it being rubber stamped by the western area planning committee.

Despite 10 letters of representation from residents and notes from Greenham Parish Council which criticised Priory over a lack of consultation, there were no objections from any of the other bodies approached for input.

On Wednesday (18), members of the Newbury Town Council planning committee chose to support the development.

Julian Swift-Hook (Lib Dem, Pyle Hill) who is also on Greenham Parish Council said: “There is an argument for this being granted for community benefit.

“I understand it's going to be a residential home like most others, except the clients are clients who suffer mental disability and brain injury; that means they are unable to live a normal independent life like other people.

“I cannot see anything wrong with it.”

His views were backed by councillor Tony Stretton (Con, Clay Hill), however, councillor Adrian Edwards (Con, Falkland) said that he would object to the application, not because of what they wanted to build but that they wanted to build it on land that was technically open recreation area.

In the report before West Berkshire Council's planning committee tonight, planning officers said that that the issue of building on greenfield land was far outweighed by a need for the facility and the community benefit it would provide.

Monks Lane residents have argued that increased parking and traffic problems would occur, however the report said a transport statement submitted with the application noted that the total number of trips generated per 12 hour day were considered minimal.

The access onto Monks Lane is good and it is not envisaged that additional parking will occur on Monks Lane itself – this rarely occurs with the surgery at present.

An S106 mitigation contribution of £12,000 has been accepted by Priory to allow for the increase in traffic generation from the site.