Twyford School car park plans permitted with conditions

The South Downs National Park Authority has permitted the car park improvement plans for the private school, just off Twyford High Street, despite objections over the lack of a traffic plan, rising numbers of pupils and whether new lighting will be dark sky compliant.

Submitting the application in April last year, the private boarding and day school argued that its current parking facilities are “inadequate” and that increased parking would help reduce traffic along the High Street.

READ MORE: Traffic objections over Twyford School plans to extend car park

Existing and proposed parking areas (Image: The Genesis Design Studio, SDNPA planning application)

The plans to extend and resurface the existing car parking areas for staff and visitors include eight new minibus spaces as well as new lighting and four raised areas to control speed and provide pedestrian crossings.

The national park authority published its decision notice on Tuesday, March 19 outlining 11 conditions, ordering the applicant to not install lighting on the buildings to preserve dark night skies, promote sustainable travel over use of private cars, update the travel plan and to produce a detailed sustainable surface water drainage scheme.

SEE ALSO: Letter: Twyford School car park plans misunderstood

Headmaster Andrew Harvey said: "We are pleased that the car park plans have been approved. This will enable us to improve the existing site, thereby easing and aiding traffic flow through the school and the local area."

Mr Harvey previously wrote to the Chronicle to clarify the plans to objectors. He wrote: “We are not seeking to increase the size of the area available for parking but to formalise what we already use.  

“We believe there has been a misunderstanding of intent, our plans are to improve the areas we currently use to aid/improve the flow of traffic through our site.”