Council listens to Wokingham community concerns
Wokingham District Council has worked with Gorse Ride residents to make sure the proposed new Finchampstead community facility stays on track.
Some people living on the estate had been worried that the proposed facility, a joint project between Finchampstead Baptist Church (FBC), Wokingham District Council and Finchampstead Parish Council, could lead to the opening of Gorse Ride North and Gorse Ride South to through traffic.
But on Wednesday February 7 residents welcomed a solution to the problem presented to them by Wokingham council officers and the FBC at the Rides Community Hall.
Under the new plan, Gorse Ride North and Gorse Ride South would remain separated as they are currently and both roads would have access to the new centre. These access roads would lead to separate car parks in order to prevent any cars using the car park as a way of driving directly from Gorse Ride North to Gorse Ride South.
This solution would give access to the centre from both north and south without opening the road.
The two car parks would be separated by a system of bollards, which would remain closed except in exceptional circumstances, such as for special events when a large number of cars need to use the car parks. This solution allows flexible use of the car park to respond to changing demand at different times, but without creating a rat run, and has been successfully used elsewhere in the country. The entrances to the car parks would also have gates, which would be locked when the centre is closed. The proposal will also retain and enhance the existing pedestrian access through to California Country Park.
The community facility could, as well as being the Baptist church’s place of worship, include a sports hall, community meeting rooms, youth facilities, coffee bar, crèche, children’s centre and, if agreed, a library.
Executive member for Wokingham corporate services Cllr Rob Stanton said: “This is a great opportunity to improve community facilities in Finchampstead and I look forward to working with the Baptist church, the parish council and all parties in the community to take it forward.”
And executive member for community development Wokingham Cllr Dianne King said: “I am pleased an acceptable solution has been found to allow this exciting project to progress.”
A questionnaire inviting feedback from local residents has been sent to about 4,000 homes in Finchampstead and a drop-in session to provide more information about the project will be held at California Ratepayers Hall from 12.30pm to 5pm on Saturday February 24. Information about the sport and community facilities could be on offer at the centre will be on display.
Some people living on the estate had been worried that the proposed facility, a joint project between Finchampstead Baptist Church (FBC), Wokingham District Council and Finchampstead Parish Council, could lead to the opening of Gorse Ride North and Gorse Ride South to through traffic.
But on Wednesday February 7 residents welcomed a solution to the problem presented to them by Wokingham council officers and the FBC at the Rides Community Hall.
Under the new plan, Gorse Ride North and Gorse Ride South would remain separated as they are currently and both roads would have access to the new centre. These access roads would lead to separate car parks in order to prevent any cars using the car park as a way of driving directly from Gorse Ride North to Gorse Ride South.
This solution would give access to the centre from both north and south without opening the road.
The two car parks would be separated by a system of bollards, which would remain closed except in exceptional circumstances, such as for special events when a large number of cars need to use the car parks. This solution allows flexible use of the car park to respond to changing demand at different times, but without creating a rat run, and has been successfully used elsewhere in the country. The entrances to the car parks would also have gates, which would be locked when the centre is closed. The proposal will also retain and enhance the existing pedestrian access through to California Country Park.
The community facility could, as well as being the Baptist church’s place of worship, include a sports hall, community meeting rooms, youth facilities, coffee bar, crèche, children’s centre and, if agreed, a library.
Executive member for Wokingham corporate services Cllr Rob Stanton said: “This is a great opportunity to improve community facilities in Finchampstead and I look forward to working with the Baptist church, the parish council and all parties in the community to take it forward.”
And executive member for community development Wokingham Cllr Dianne King said: “I am pleased an acceptable solution has been found to allow this exciting project to progress.”
A questionnaire inviting feedback from local residents has been sent to about 4,000 homes in Finchampstead and a drop-in session to provide more information about the project will be held at California Ratepayers Hall from 12.30pm to 5pm on Saturday February 24. Information about the sport and community facilities could be on offer at the centre will be on display.
Wokingham District Council
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