Neighbours describe care home plans as ‘monstrous’

FRESH plans to develop a care home in Wargrave have been criticised by residents.

Aedifica UK already has planning permission for a new two- and three-storey purpose-built building, which will house 65 beds.

It replaces The Mount in School Lane which had 32 beds in a three-storey Edwardian building but was deemed unfit for purpose.

Plans have been amended further to install heating, ventilation and air conditioning units on the rooftop, plant ancillary equipment and with changes to the window and door proposals.

However, residents have written to Wokingham Borough Council with concerns over noise intrusion, an increase in the roof’s height line and placement of the ventilation systems.

Jo Hickman, of Silverdale Road, said: “The variation will produce an invasive noise for the residents and nearby locals on a constant basis. The background noise and vibrations from the systems are likely to cause annoyance, stress, sleep disturbance, fatigue, distraction and cognitive disruption to those living near these constructions as the decibel levels are proven to cause health discomfort and impact cognitive function.

“This will have an impact on those nearby residents like those working from home, the housebound and those who care for family members.”

She added: “The system’s design and placement of the motors, fans and turbulent airflows within the duct could be more appropriately located on the site, away from local homes and on the south side.”

Nicola Jordan, also of Silverdale Road, said: “I have to put up with this awful view of a monstrous building. The incessant noise, not only from the building works but also from the workmen themselves — loud radio music and shouting and swearing has been unbearable.

“The pollution of dust and fumes into my back garden and house have exacerbated my asthma.

“I have also felt like a prisoner in my own home, unable to enjoy my back garden without enduring noise, pollution and workmen looking across. My animals, cats and rabbits, have also suffered.”

She added: “Any further additions to this monstrous and unsightly structure will be terrible.”

Griselda Truscott Wicks said: “Silverdale Road is a quiet, residential area and the residents are now having to live with the equivalent of a large, commercial, industrial building in their midst.

“The prospect of HVAC equipment now to be fitted to the roof, which will raise the roof sightline, and the constant noise pollution and disturbance that will be generated, is unacceptable.

“This equipment should be sited nearer, or at ground level on the southern side of the site (not the eastern or northern sides) where existing trees would offer some mitigation for the disturbances produced.

“It should be remembered that many of the residents work from home, students study and some are housebound. Noise pollution is injurious to health and wellbeing.”

Wargrave Parish Council has recommended approval of the plans with the condition that measures are implemented to “minimise” the visual impact of the roof equipment installation on neighbouring properties and that noise level emissions do not have a “detrimental impact” on neighbours.

The borough council will make a final decision in due course.