ThealeVillage.com - Forum

Maybe we will be accused of being NIMBY's, but I reject that. We have to face up to the need for more houses, whether we like it or not.

BUT... 800 new houses in Theale would almost double the size of the village and turn us into part of the Reading sprawl. The village has already expanded a lot in recent years. We already have the 350 new houses going up at the west end of the village, which most of us thought had been rejected. Even that development will have a huge impact on the village and the traffic. I just can't begin to imagine what another 450 at the other end will mean.

The High Street cannot be widened. It's already congested and difficult to negotiate roound all the parked card. Imagine double the traffic!

We must tell the counciul what we think about this idea. It just isn't going to work in a village the size of Theale. The whole character of the place will be destroyed.

Please make sure you tell your neighbours and friends in Theale what the council is planning, and encourage everyone to respond to West Berks council before July 3rd!

Good luck with the website, I hope this facility is used by people in Theale to express their views on this sort of thing.

What do other people think? Am I alone?

Totally agree with you. These are some of the objections I have submitted ...

- Theale will not be able to cope with the current development plans at Lakeside. Any further development on any of the other proposed areas will not only push Schools, Traffic, Utilities, and Medical Facilities etc well past the breaking point Lakeside will impose, it will also destroy any sense of individuality and character Theale has as a village.

- There is already a problem with disenfranchised teenagers and children within the village causing problems for other residents. The Lakeside development will exacerbate this further, and the introduction of even more families will again push this existing problem even higher.

- The Theale site is not suitable for development, with National Power Lines crossing the proposed site (numerous health risks have been associated with living close to them); with the proximity of the M4 and the very busy A4, congestion would rise to unacceptable levels, and could render J12 unusable at peak times. Any sound fencing raised to reduce noise levels would be an eyesore, and help to reduce the character the village has; ground contamination from the Sewage Works again raising Health concerns, coupled with Flood risks on site and further afield (Sulham Brook).

- The proposed Theale and Pincents Hill sites would negate the gap between Theale and Calcot & Tilehurst, effectively incorporating Theale into Reading and losing its village status. This would effectively destroy any sense of character and community that currently exists.

- The proposed developments would have an extreme negative affect on surrounding views and areas of natural beauty, once again removing any character the village has.

- Theale High Street currently cannot cope with the high volumes of traffic, with inadequate parking and grid-lock at peak times. The Lakeside development will push this further and any further developments would render the High Street impassable. This will also bring an increased risk of traffic accidents outside the Primary School, and the Doctors Surgery with the elevated traffic flow during the 'school runs'.

- Theale Rail Station is already inadequate for the levels of commuters that use it, with train delays frequent, coupled with the on-going reduction of service provided by First Great Western. Any increase on commuter numbers will only increase the problem.


I have sumitted these to the West Berkshire Consultation Website (http://consult.westberks.gov.uk/portal/p...ction-1059) however, they still currently haven't been accepted so are not showing.

I strongly suggest as many people as possible also log objections via that website.

The threat of a site for 450 homes at the east end of Theale (Whitehart Meadow/old sewage works site) has been lifted - please see my main post.

The plan for 350 homes at the western end of The (Lakeside) was given permission by a government inspector in 2007. That should come up for renewal soon...

Alan Macro
Councillor for Theale

Hi Alan.

Your post re the threat of 450 homes is great news. Wanting to find out more, I clicked on the link in your post to the "main post" and was taken to a post regarding a planning application for Arlington Business Park, which seems to be a separate issue to me.

I think you meant to point to here.

Regards,

Jimbo

Yes, you have given the correct link.

Thank you for correcting my mistake.

I can understand why people want to move to the area and welcome them. But at the same time, I do agree that the current roads and infrastructure can't support that many new homes. There needs to be a cooperative effort to work together so more people can enjoy the area.