Planning Matters for February/March 2006

Over the past few months we objected to the commercial and storage development at Pikes Farm, Forest Road. The District Council's Development Control Committee unanimously refused this application, which would have brought even more traffic to the notorious crossroads with the A321 Wokingham Road at an accident blackspot, and industrialised the countryside.

The council also refused permission to remove the agricultural occupancy condition on Grange Farm House in Nelsons Lane.

Under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, currently in Parliament, roads used as public paths, and not previously designated as Byways, were in danger of being closed to motor vehicles. This would prevent 'green laning' by people on scramble bikes and in 4x4 vehicles. A consequence of this would be to make it impossible for people with properties accessed from unmade, undesignated tracks to get to their homes, fields and outbuildings. An amendment is being made to the Bill so that people will be able to reach their properties. In Hurst this means that unmade tracks to properties now have to be designated Byways Open to All Traffic, and walkers, cyclists and horse riders will have to contend with lorries and other vehicles on previously quiet and peaceful tracks.

Lastly, the District Council seems to have got itself in a tangle at Dinton Pastures. An application to erect black polyethylene netting 7 metres high for more than 600 metres alongside the first and second tees at the Black Swan Golf Club was objected to by the Parish Council, Golf Club Manager and HVS. The council has withdrawn the application. It is alleged that a person walking on the Country Park footpath was hit and injured by a golf ball. There are signs along the footpath to warn walkers and cyclists of the dangers of wayward golf balls - so please take care!

No netting

With netting

If you're interested in planning and its effect on our village, please consider joining the HVS committee. Wendy Tobitt is resigning, so we're looking for someone to monitor the planning lists.