Thatcham school expansion will clog up residential roads even more, say neighbours

Residents fed up with school-run parents clogging up their roads and parking across their drives have called plans to double its capacity “short-sighted”.

An extra 180 pupils could attend Spurcroft Primary School if a six-classroom extension is given the go-ahead.

West Berkshire Council has applied to erect a double-storey building at the site in Spurcroft Road, to cater for an increase in demand for places.

Thirteen people have raised objections with the planning department, and a further six have said that while more school places were needed, issues over traffic, parking and privacy need to be resolved.

At least one has called on the council to find an alternative site for a new school.

Peter Barclay, of Tomlin Close, said: “I do not relish the idea of Spurcroft School expanding by a potential 180 extra pupils. I understand the need for more pupil spaces, but this will impact heavily on the local roads.

“I am of the mind that another school should be built where the infrastructure is more capable of dealing with it or is purpose-built to take the extra traffic.

“It was short-sighted to build the school in its present location, and even more short-sighted to want to expand it by the latest required amount.”

Simon Hollingbery, also of Tomlin Close, said: “No extra provision was made the last time the school was extended, and the residents have to put up with inconsiderate parents who park across driveways and, at times, on the drives.”

Vicky Chevallier, of Fyfield Road, said that parking by parents was a constant problem for residents.

“I fail to see how any council could consider developing a school when access is limited on small residential roads with no parking, at major inconvenience to residents,” she said.

“I would also like to add that the problem has grown to extend outside usual school pick-up hours, as it would appear there is an out-of-hours club.”

Andrew Marcham, of Longcroft Road, said that he would support the application if the issues of parents blocking the roads and the potential intrusion into other residents’ privacy from the two-storey extension could be resolved.

David Davies, of Spurcroft Road, said: “While I understand that the proposed extension of the school is important to provide educational opportunities for local children, I believe that there has been no consideration of the problems and concerns that previous extensions have caused local residents.”

The council has not received any communications from residents in support of the application, however Thatcham Town Council has backed the plan.

The district council is expected to make a decision by April 25