School shift 'could create road chaos'

Roads around Cox Green could be swamped with extra vehicles if plans to shift Holyport Manor School to the village go ahead, according to worried villagers.

Some householders have cited fears the road infrastructure will simply not be able to take any extra congestion that the re-building of the special school on a playing field on the Cox Green School site may bring.  

Villager Brian England, who has lived in Cox Green for a number of years, said there was a traffic problem in the area 10 years ago, and 10 years on, the problem has only got worse.

“There was a survey commissioned by the borough in 1998 that looked at the ways to reduce the impact of traffic in Cox Green and Woodlands Park,” said Mr England.
“The report seemed to be suggesting that there was a high volume of traffic, and high levels of congestion and delay, especially in the morning peak period. 

“Since 1998, traffic is likely to have doubled due to increased numbers of vehicles and fuelled by the intensive development of housing and commercial buildings in Cox Green and White Waltham.
He added: "The road infrastructure in Cox Green was not fit for purpose back then and I doubt that it is fit for purpose now."

A spokesperson for the borough said the council was aware of the 1998 study, but that as part of the current plans to relocate the school, new and up-to-date traffic surveys will be carried out.