Neighbours complain about noise from new Caversham school

The Heights Primary School opened at Mapledurham Playing Fields in September last year.

Since then, neighbours have raised issues that they say never existed before.

Specifically, they have complained about noise coming from the school throughout the day.

READ MORE: Residents raise concerns about road safety at Mapledurham Playing Fields

The neighbours are represented by the Warren & District Residents Association (WADRA), which is made up of around 250 households.

Martin Brommell, a member of WADRA, has explained how noise coming from the playing fields has intensified since the school opened and upgrades to the site took place.

He said: “We’ve gone from a quiet recreation ground where elderly residents used to walk round with their dogs and their friends, all sorts of people were walking round, some groups of kids would come up after school and have a picnic and meet their mates there, parents used to use the kids play area.

“What’s happened now is we have wall to wall noise 24/7. The school opens at 7am for pre school breakfast clubs, you’ve got kids screaming playing outside, you’ve got staggered breaks throughout the day including lunch, you’ve got after school clubs, which carry on until about 5.30pm, they go, then the footballers turn up for football practice two or three nights a week.

“You’ve got intensive football on Saturdays, you’ve got use of the MUGA and there’s no escaping this wall of noise.”

The Heights Primary School which has been built on Mapledurham Playing Fields and was opened in September 2021. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Fellow WADRA member Elisa Del Galdo suggested putting up sound resistant barriers to mitigate the noise.

She said: “They should never even considered not putting in a sound absorption wall. Someone from environmental health told me they couldn’t even believe that they put a school so close to residential homes.”

The complaints about noise coming from the school have been addressed by Karen Edwards, the headteacher, who explained that she and her team are working on a solution.

Mrs Edwards said: “We are on quite a limited site, I know for some people it’s not limited enough!

“We have 350 children on a 1.23 acre site, there’s limited outside space.

“We have to stagger play for safety practice.

“Local residents understand that, and we do have to recognise there’s noise throughout the day.

“The breakfast club begins at 7.30am, but numbers are limited. There is ‘wrap around’ care until 6pm.

“There is a sensory garden area closest to the two neighbouring properties, where there’s no running and shouting, and is closed after school hours.

READ MORE: Mapledurham Playing Fields future ahead as school opens

“Different conversations have been had on what we can do.

“Acoustic panelling has been investigated, they would costs tens of thousands and be an effort to maintain.

“Bamboo could be put up for a more visual barrier as well.

“We are trying to minimise the impact, and acknowledge that noise is the biggest concern that’s been raised by neighbours at the moment.”

The playing fields were given in trust to be managed by Reading Borough Council by previous owner Charles Hewitt in 1938.