The View from Shute End...

Wokingham Unitary Councillor Annette Drake reports

Sandford Farm campaign moves on

The combined campaign by HVS and Loddon Valley Action (LVA) to oppose the Hicks Persimmon proposal to remove the rubbish from Sandford Farm, Woodley, relocate most of it to Lee Farm and Whistley Court Farm, Hurst and then fill up the voids in Woodley with imported inert materials and aggregate so that they can build 450 houses on the site, has not lost any of its momentum.

On Thursday 30 October, Phil Challis, the spokesman for Loddon Valley Action Group, presented the Full Council with a petition signed by 2,400 residents and the 2 MPs Theresa May and Jane Griffith, objecting to the proposals. Phil explained the scheme to Councillors, and alerted them to the problems associated with the plans. The LVA and HVS feel positive about the campaign, and the level of opposition to the proposals is almost unanimous within both communities. However it should be remembered that at a recent appeal the Government Inspector's report stated that "Local opposition to a proposal in not in itself a reason for refusal".

I am delighted to advise you that during the consultation process the Environment Agency and English Nature, both of which are statutory consultees, have made considerable objections. This opens the way for Wokingham UA to use Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999 to require Hicks Persimmon to provide more information than they have already given in the Environmental Statement.

I am cautiously optimistic that the Council will invoke Regulation 19. This will mean that additional information has to be submitted in writing, and determination of the application is suspended until such time as the supplementary information requested is received. When it is, the new and additional information will be subject to consultation and advertisement in a local newspaper. We can be confident that Hicks Persimmon's applications will not come to the Development Control Committee before Christmas!

Beeches Nursery

The recently refused application at Beeches Nursery for 24 business units, which under an earlier appeal decision for 10 units was allowed with no restriction on working hours, is quite unacceptable in an area surrounded by houses. This will be the subject of a local appeal hearing, so I hope that anyone affected by this proposal will join me there. The date for the hearing has yet to be set, but let me know if you want to come to it.

Slowing down the traffic on village roads

This continues to be a major concern, and I am pleased that Hurst is being considered as one of the pilot areas for Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS). If drivers exceed the speed limit, the VAS will alert them. The proposal for bollards to be placed in front of the new cottages in The Street should be going ahead soon, this would also prevent parking on the grass verge at the entrance to Tape Lane. Progress is frustratingly slow, but these schemes are on the list! Should you have comments on either of these proposals I would be grateful if you will let me know and I will pass them to the Highways Board Chairman.