Residents fight care home plans due to extra traffic

PLANS to turn a former care home in Tokers Green into a special educational needs facility are being opposed by residents.

Archway Building Consultancy has applied for planning permission to change the use of The Maples home for adults with autism into a school for children aged three to 18 with autism.

It is also seeking approval of formalised car parking, a fence around the perimeter of the site and an outdoor play area and canopy.

The Aura Group, established in 2015, would run the new facility. The company has taken on similar projects in other “under-appreciated” buildings across the country.

Residents and Kidmore End Parish Council claim the location is not appropriate because of extra traffic on the single-lane roads that the facility would create, damaging the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Michael Jan-Janin, of Dysons Wood Lane, says: “The proposed introduction of additional traffic levels (264 car journeys daily) in the Tokers Green area is ridiculous.

“The roads that would need to be used (Tokers Green Lane and Dysons Wood Lane) are single-track lanes with no designated passing places. They are regularly used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

“The area is AONB and Dysons Wood Lane is part of the Chiltern Way and is a restricted bridleway.”

Jane Townend, of Tanners Lane, Chalkhouse Green, says: “We keep horses in the area and use the bridleway to Tokers Green.

“This proposal would further erode the Chiltern Way network with off-road riding in what should be considered a rural environment already at a bare minimum with upkeep of bridleways not a priority.

“Traffic in the area as a whole has increased exponentially in recent years with the consideration and approval of schemes unsupported by the current infrastructure and in an AONB.

“This makes it more and more dangerous for riders, cyclists and walkers.

“The proposal is contrary to the nature of the hamlet and the increase in traffic unsuitable for a single-track road where those going in would not then be able to get out. We strongly oppose it.”

The parish council says: “Access to The Maples up to the village of Tokers Green via Tokers Green Lane is a single-track road and the highways infrastructure would not accommodate any increase in traffic.

“Increased traffic associated with this site would result in congestion and reduced air quality and impact road safety for residents and other road users.

“Proposed mitigation measures on this road are not appropriate for the AONB setting and would harm the character and the surrounding environment.

“Roads in Tokers Green are single track with no pavements, with the exception of Rokeby Drive. Access to The Maples site from the junction of Rokeby Drive with Tokers Green Lane is already difficult and any increase in traffic could create gridlock and add to the already difficult traffic problems facing this community, especially for students trying to get to and from Kidmore End Primary School and Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge School. School bus access to Kidmore End Primary School is on Rokeby Drive, which is the main link road to Tokers Green from the A4074. Young students using this service could be put at risk because of increased congestion.”

The Maples opened in 2013 and was run by the Disabilities Trust but in 2021 it was rated “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission and put into special measures.

The inspectors said the home was unsafe, ineffective, not well-led and not responsive.

They said: “People’s care and support was not provided in a safe, clean, well-equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment which met people’s sensory and physical needs.”

The Disabilities Trust runs 20 other facilities across the country, including other homes in Berkshire.

At the time of the inspection, chief executive Irene Sobowale said it was taking the need for improvements “extremely seriously”.

South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, was due to make a decision by today (Friday).