Nature Discovery Centre car park works complete

The £106,000 project in Thatcham will allow for extra parking and a school 'Park and Stride' scheme

A PROJECT costing £106,000 to improve the car park at the Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham is now complete.

The improvements mean that the field which is currently used as a summer overflow car park will be able to be used all year round.

A special grass, robust enough to be resistant to vehicle impact, has been fitted which will provide 65 year round spaces.

This will then be used as a car park for the Parsons Down Junior School 'Park and Stride' scheme, allowing children to walk to school while reducing congestion in Lower Way.

The new car park will also provide a dedicated area for minibus parking which will free up space in the lower car park for disabled parking and coaches.

Headteacher at Parsons Down Junior School in Herons Way, Petrina Winsor, said: "We really welcome the new car park.

“It supports all of the work we do to encourage children to walk to school."

West Berkshire's Executive Councillor for the Environment, Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley) said: “We are delighted that the car park can now be used all year round.

“This will greatly benefit visitors to the centre and the children at Parsons Down School."

West Berkshire Council funded the scheme with contributions from local developers and a funding bid from Thatcham West ward member Keith Woodhams (Lib Dem) for £10,000.