PARENTS of vulnerable children are furious metal barriers are obscuring access to a special needs school near Bullbrook.
The borders were installed next to Rise@GHC school on Eastern Road before children made their way to school this morning.
Pavements leading to the site are now blocked by the silver barriers, causing “vulnerable SEN (special educational needs) children to walk in the roads”.
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Pauline Nixon, a parent of an SEN pupil at Rise@GHC, told the News: “I have on several occasions let a child walk in front of my vehicle so that they can get into school safely as they have had to walk in the road due to the path being closed off.
“There are no warning signs or alternative safe path to use without crossing what is already becoming a very busy road.
“I for one would like to know what is going on that we can’t see behind the fences.”
I couldn't believe it when I saw it this morning, what the hell they doing 😡
— Fran 💋🎄🎁❤ (@franny_cuk) December 11, 2019
Owners of the vacant unit next door to the school are hoping to convert the site into a car wash.
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Bracknell Forest Council was asked if owners had planning permission to erect the barriers but the authority referred the News to the site's contractors.
The News rang the applicants for the plans, to press them on if they were aware of the fences being installed, but nobody was able to give more information on how long the barriers would be up for or whether the site's owner had appropriate permissions.
Displays a complete disregard for pedestrian safety - and that it’s affecting vulnerable pupils is even worse. I’d suggest @BracknellForest need to send officers asap, seems like a clear pupil welfare issue. https://t.co/T7QQmCqfUD
— Peter Shearman (@PeterLShearman) December 11, 2019
Developers of the residence opposite the site, Redrow, have been contacted for comment.
The plans to convert the site were pushed back by Bracknell Forest development bosses last month as councillors chose to delay giving a decision on the proposal.
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Planning committee members were worried about the noise coming from the car wash negatively impacting vulnerable children at the school next door.
Noise inspectors are set to measure sound levels at a different site before reporting back to the committee, which is expected to make a decision in the new year.
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