Useless idea to cut off Shoppenhangers Road

Having read the document related to the proposed ‘invisible’ RBWM Bus Gate on Shoppenhangers Road it beggars belief that this ‘short’ section of a major road with access to the town centre should be closed.

It appears there could be a hidden message in this proposal perhaps a forerunner to a ‘stealth’ road tax with fines imposed for misuse by unwary motorists attained by the installation of a costly ANPR camera monitoring and management system?

With reference to the supposed benefits, the pedestrian aspect – apart from the student traffic from Desborough College of short duration at start and finish times the footfall on this short section is negligible.

With regard to the environmental benefits this is completely offset by the redirection of traffic up and down Harvest Hill Road, a narrow country lane with a recorded fatality toward the bottom end in the recent past and then on to the Braywick Road (which is getting further congested with the opening of the new leisure centre) for town centre access.

If the BLP goes ahead the council nominated contractor Cala Homes intend to start the development on the golf course by building 164 homes on the 11th,12th,13th, & 14th holes, which all run parallel to Harvest Hill Road and which will involve heavy construction traffic.

A field on the opposite side of this road owned by Taylor Wimpey and two further sites in Manor Lane owned by Berkeley Homes will involve even more construction traffic - this will end up in complete chaos to the local residents.

Hopefully all local residents will express their views on the RBWM website.

TED GARRETT Manor Lane Maidenhead