Controversial plans to merge Winchcombe Infants and Juniors into a single school have received the go-ahead. The combined school will open in September, even though 90 per cent of parents opposed the idea during consultation. Similar schemes are underway in Thatcham and Calcot.

New parade

A new parade of shops is planned at the former Elf garage at Faraday Road. Elmcrest Developments wants to demolish the filling station to make way for a mix of shops, office space, and a food and drink outlet at the entrance to the busy industrial estate.

West Mills flats

Three terraced houses in Craven Road are to make way for 14 flats, if a developer gets his way. Renaissance Habitat has watered down plans to build the apartments with underground parking, after planners rejected a more dense scheme last year.

Park and ride

Plans for a park and ride at the former Greenham airbase turned business park are hotting up. Greenham Common Trust has lodged plans for an environmentally friendly building to be built, acting as a waiting/drop off point.

Meanwhile, Vodafone are still in talks with West Berkshire Council about opening up their headquarters car park for a park and ride for the north end of town on weekends.