Approval for Thatcham school expansion plans

MORE children will be able to attend Spurcroft Primary School after plans to expand the school were approved.

The extension is set to provide six new classrooms, while the size of the school car park will create 11 additional parking spaces.

Thatcham Town Council supported the plans, which were recommended for approval when they went before West Berkshire Council’s eastern area planning committee last week.

Speaking on behalf of the school, Deborah Wyatt, said: “We have seen unprecedented growth and basic need around the Newbury and Thatcham area.

"Spurcroft was identified as the most suitable site and the predominant number of children are from the catchment area.

"This will allow better access for parents dropping off and collecting their children and special educational needs facilities.”

However, residents fear that traffic levels in the already congested road will be increased; 23 letters of objection cited that the expansion would add to the misery of a lack of parking and blocked drives during school runs.

While some residents accepted the need to provide new school places, some have called for the main access to the school to be relocated or for a park and walk scheme to be created to help ease the traffic woes.

Referring to residents’ concerns, planning officer, David Pearson, said that the impact on neighbours was deemed as acceptable.

Further objections had come from Sport England, with the organisation calling for the building to be moved further west to mitigate the loss of playing field space.

Mr Pearson highlighted that Sport England could stop the plans from going ahead if they felt the playing field was under threat, provided the Government agreed.

Councillors approved the plans, with one abstention.

Thatcham councillor Roger Croft (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) said: “There is cycling access for the south east and west.

“The traffic is definitely poor and very congested, but this is the reality of modern schools. But there is a need in the area and so I support it.”

And fellow Conservative Richard Crumly (Thatcham central) added: “I feel on balance I will support this application – education is the most precious gift that us older ones can bestow.”