West Berkshire Council considers proposal to create safer road access to Wasing Estate

West Berkshire Council is considering a proposal to reroute and improve vehicular access to a West Berkshire estate.

The Trustees Of The 1975 Settlement Of Wasing has applied to create a new vehicular access track from Back Lane to the Wasing Estate Office to improve road safety in the area.

The application seeks to reactivate a historic farm route to the south to link the estate with an existing junction in a bid to reduce traffic congestion along Back Lane.

The proposal will also include blocking the existing access point and creating a new vehicular access track to Wasing Old Rectory, which is currently accessed via a track at the south of the property, connecting Back Lane (to the west) with the main Wasing Park complex (to the east).

The estate says the growing success of its wedding and events venue – which employs an extra 141 staff on a casual basis – has led to an increase in the number of deliveries, adding to the existing residential and visitor traffic from/on to Back Lane.

The highways statement prepared on behalf of the Wasing Estate reads: “In order to improve safety for visitor, delivery, service and residential traffic, as well as pedestrians, it is proposed to alter the access strategy for Wasing Park.

“The intention is to form a new junction on Back Lane just to the north of the existing junction.

“The rerouting of deliveries/service traffic into the estate via the historic farm road is likely to encourage traffic to route along Paices Hill and arrive from the south, via Brimpton Common, with vehicles spending less time travelling along Back Lane as a result.”

Wasing Parish Council welcomed the proposal, saying: “The existing access point on Back Lane is on a bend and therefore dangerous.

“The new proposed access looks to be in a much safer location.”

West Berkshire Council has said speed surveys will be required.

It is due to determine its decision by Monday, October 9.