Issue - meetings

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 (Public Participation), a statement calling for action has been submitted by Mrs C Doran resident of Dukes Ride, Crowthorne on behalf of a deputation of three local residents groups with regard to their concern about the proposed Site Allocation Development Plan Document (SADPD).

The full text of the statement is set out below:

“The Campaign for Responsible Development, a coalition of three local residents groups, Binfield Village Protection Society, Northern Arc Action Group and the Crowthorne Village Action Group, call upon the council members not to adopt the SADPD in its current form for these reasons:-

• The overall number of houses is based on pre 2006 data and does not reflect the  economic downturn and weakened housing market in which many buyers are unable to get mortgages.
• Environmental damage under the Council's 2006-2026 housing plans would be extensive and permanent – with 3000 houses being builton green land and a further 1000 on woodland, destroyingan estimated 20,000 trees.
• Local villages would lose their traditional individual identities through the loss or erosion of green gaps separating built-up areas, resulting in urban sprawl.
• The high densities proposed would have a heavy negative impact on all local infrastructure, leading to gridlock during peak hour traffic, both on local roads and the surrounding arterial roads, including the  A329M and A322 Bagshot Road.
• We query how the Council proposes to fund the additional infrastructure programmes proposed.
• The plans do not achieve Government aims for sustainable development which preserves open spaces of public value, minimises impact on natural resources, and minimises the need to travel.

We ask council members not toadopt the current document but insteadinstruct its planning officers to reconsider all the development sites available, with the aim of minimising loss of green spaces, preserving the gaps between individual communities and, in particular, prioritising and vigorously pursuing the efficient re-use of existing long-term empty buildings, especially in and around Bracknell town centre”.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 (Public Participation), a statement calling for action was submitted by Mrs C Doran resident of Dukes Ride, Crowthorne on behalf of a deputation of three local residents groups with regard to their concern about the proposed Site Allocation Development Plan Document (SADPD).

The full text of the statement was as below:

“The Campaign for Responsible Development, a coalition of three local residents groups, Binfield Village Protection Society, Northern Arc Action Group and the Crowthorne Village Action Group, call upon the council members not to adopt the SADPD in its current form for these reasons:-

• The overall number of houses is based on pre 2006 data and does not reflect the  economic downturn and weakened housing market in which many buyers are unable to get mortgages.
• Environmental damage under the Council's 2006-2026 housing plans would be extensive and permanent – with 3000 houses being builton green land and a further 1000 on woodland, destroyingan estimated 20,000 trees.
• Local villages would lose their traditional individual identities through the loss or erosion of green gaps separating built-up areas, resulting in urban sprawl.
• The high densities proposed would have a heavy negative impact on all local infrastructure, leading to gridlock during peak hour traffic, both on local roads and the surrounding arterial roads, including the  A329M and A322 Bagshot Road.
• We query how the Council proposes to fund the additional infrastructure programmes proposed.
• The plans do not achieve Government aims for sustainable development which preserves open spaces of public value, minimises impact on natural resources, and minimises the need to travel.

We ask Council Members not toadopt the current document but insteadinstruct its planning officers to reconsider all the development sites available, with the aim of minimising loss of green spaces, preserving the gaps between individual communities and, in particular, prioritising and vigorously pursuing the efficient re-use of existing long-term empty buildings, especially in and around Bracknell town centre”.

The Mayor invited Andy Holley to make the submission to the meeting on behalf of the deputation, following which one Member asked a factual question.

The Mayor accepted the petition which was submitted at the conclusion of the presentation and Councillor Bettison advised that in accordance with the petition scheme this would be passed to the Head of Democratic and Registration Services to be dealt with appropriately.

Councillor Bettison formally thanked Mr Holley for the submission and confirmed that Councillors would bear in mind the deputation’s points when the related recommendations were being considered during the next item.

The Mayor thanked Mr Holley for attending the meeting.