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Demolition of convent to make way for homes back on table





The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, which owns St Gabriel’s Convent, has submitted a plan to build houses on the site in The Ridge to West Berkshire Council, despite a similar plan being turned down at the appeal stage last year.
The application includes getting rid of the convent, chapel and conference centre, but retaining the gate lodge, to make way for 11 homes,
Several residents have raised objections to the latest application, including Bernard Broughton, of Collaroy Road, who said that the convent should be saved as part of the village’s heritage.
He said: “This building has been a landmark in Cold Ash for many years.
"The chapel is beautiful and should be retained for the use of the local community and village.
“The construction of private dwellings on this site would significantly change the character of this part of the village.”
Other villagers raised objections because of parking.
Michael Nash, of The Ridge, said that the road already suffered congestion because of the adjacent St Finian’s Primary school, which was redeveloped in 2011.
His neighbour Marilyn Erbé, shared his view about parking.
She said: “At the moment, twice a day, The Ridge is a very dangerous place, particularly for pedestrians, as there are no pavements when parents are dropping off and collecting their children from the school.
“If 11 detached houses are added to the equation, bringing potentially at least 22 more cars, it would make it impossible to negotiate The Ridge at those times.”
Mr Nash added that he moved to the area because it was not over-developed, and he did not want this to change.
He said: “I live next to the school and during its redevelopment we suffered almost continuous disruptive ground shaking vibration during demolition and ground works.
“I have an overwhelming fear this development, if allowed, would be the precedent to which other future developers point for approval.”
An application for 11 homes on the site was turned down by the council in 2011 because an up-to-date bat survey had not been submitted nor a mitigation report to show how the protected species would be conserved after the demolition of the buildings.
The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary got the same answer when it took the plan to the Secretary of State for Comm-unities and Local Government.
The planning inspector strengthened the case for refusal saying the plan did not discuss how it would minimise the impact that the development would have on local infrastructure and services.
This is third attempt by the owners to sell the land with planning permission to a developer. In 2009, at the same time it was agreed the school could be redeveloped after land was sold to the council, a plan for a mixture of flats and houses was also submitted.
At the time of going to press, six people had objected to the latest plan.
The Council is expected to make a decision by early June.



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