‘THIS should not have been allowed’ – that’s the message from a parent of a child at a special needs school which could have a car wash built next to it.
Planning chiefs delayed a decision on the highly controversial proposal last week, instead asking for more information about noise levels from jet pumps, vacuums and cars.
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Several fears about the noise from the car wash impacting special needs children at Rise@GHC, the school next to the site on Eastern Road, were made by councillors at the meeting on Thursday (November 14).
Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) planning officers said noise from jet washes, vacuums and cars would not reach a level unacceptable to children and residents following tests by the applicant’s sound inspectors.
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But a study from a different acoustics company, hired by neighbours living opposite the site, suggested activities at the site would be louder than originally thought.
Marie-Anne Varela, a parent of one of the children at the school, told the News several children wear ear defenders to block out noise.
She added: “Unless there is a thorough and detailed impact assessment on the individual SEN requirements that are legally binding for every single child attending this school, then it cannot be reasonably stated that the noise impact levels at a school for disabled children have been legitimately considered.”
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More than 150 people objected to the plans, many of which were parents of children at the school.
A spokesperson for the The Quarters Residents Association, the flats opposite the proposed site, said the delay meant ‘partial happiness’ as neighbours could be proved right about noise concerns.
But Ms Varela said: “Whilst there is a deferment to re-assess and test the noise levels, it only throws the issue into the long grass.
“There is a bigger consideration at hand here in terms of the failure to understand the sensory and emotional needs of SEN students directly next door to this proposed car wash.
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“Every single student attending this Special Needs School has an Education, Health and Care Plan, which is a statement of the emotional and environmental support they require, as well as outlining the support needed for their education.
“Disabled children have a right to attend their SEN school in a way that limits stress including the consideration of the environment and sensory provision.
“The fact of this matter is quite clearly there should never have been any scenario where this proposal was ever allowed to even be considered for planning where a SEN school is located within an already noisy industrial estate and the existing location of the school is already far from ideal.”
Noise experts are set to carry out more sound tests before the application is discussed again.
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