<strong>An artist's impression of what the new development may look like.</strong> <strong>An artist's impression of what the new development may look like.</strong> THE controversial application to build a new multi story car park in Wokingham is set for approval.

The recommendation comes despite objections from both The Wokingham Society, and mixed reviews from the town council.

On Wednesday July 22 the borough’s planning committee will meet and look set to give the plans the green light after planning officers recommended them for approval.

The application for Carnival Pool site includes 529-space multi storey car park and a bowling alley along with outline plans for an extension to the pool along with more leisure and retail facilities.

In a written response Wokingham Town council say they welcome the application but are unhappy with the car park.

They say: “The design of this car park is too large, and architecturally at odds with the town as admitted by the consultants in the Design and Access Statement.

“The Town Centre Master Plan SPD identifies Carnival Pool as a site for a medium stay car parking.” They want the borough council to tell them how the car parking strategy has changed since 2010, and how the plan has changed since a 2014 draft which was withdrawn.

“Only if Wokingham Borough Council can adequately demonstrate satisfaction to these points would Wokingham Town Council consider supporting such a large car park and only then if there was a redesign of the top storey to soften the mass and mitigate light pollution.” The response goes on to say the town council thinks insufficient parking provision for mothers with children has been provided and the cadets should not have their base removed until an application on a new site has been completed.

Philip Mirfin is both the executive member for regeneration on Wokingham Borough Council and is the mayor of the town council.

At the time of writing he was on holiday and unavailable for comment.

Mark Ashwell, deputy member for Regeneration on Wokingham Borough council said: “It’s the second phase of a three stage approach to developing Peach Place, Carnival Pool and Elms Field.

“It’s about the parking, which is the big issue. It’s about where we will put our cars when we have got the busy heart of our town.

“The important thing is the land between Carnival Pool and Elms Field. We are looking to unlock both of the car parks in the area.” However Reading Borough Council say that even with the new development Wokingham wouldn’t draw people away from Reading.

Reading Borough Council’s planning committee, meeting on Wednesday June 24, said the town had nothing to fear from Wokingham’s new town centre.

A report submitted to the committee recommended the council did not object to the proposal but said “Whilst the proposal would increase the attraction of Wokingham town centre for shopping and leisure trips, it is not considered that it is of a sufficient scale to have nay significant implications for centres within Reading Borough.

“Given the leisure provision proposed is already available within Reading, it will not cause a draw of traffic from Reading to Wokingham.

“The facilities proposed are not expected to draw significant trips from Reading.

“There are not expected to be any significant impacts on Reading Borough Council in terms of transport or retail.” Cllr Ashwell said Wokingham is not trying to compete with Reading or Bracknell, which is part way through its own multi-million pound regeneration.

He said: “What we want is Wokingham people to come to Wokingham, as the thousands of houses we are going to build in and around Wokingham.

“We don’t want to lose those new residents.”