THE latest attempt to build a row of huge warehouses next to Greenham Common has been thrown out by councillors, who one-by-one spoke up to attack the proposal.
Ten of the twelve members of West Berkshire Council’s Western Area Planning Committee tonight (Wednesday) voted against their officer’s recommendations, saying the controversial plan by developer ProLogis would blight local roads and damage the Common’s visual beauty.
The only two abstentions were Greenham councillor Julian Swift-Hook (Lib Dem), whose earlier outspoken criticism of the development barred him from voting, and chairman Paul Bryant (Con, Speen). Nobody backed the developers.
George Chandler (Con, Downlands) called ProLogis’ plans “bonkers”, while senior planning officer Derek Carnegie was forced to defend his profession after a demolition of the officer’s report recommending approval by Anthony Stansfeld (Con, Kintbury).
Mr Stansfeld said to applause from gathered protestors: “The only people who seem to want this is our planning department and the developer.”
He added: “There seem to be absolutely no advantages to West Berkshire in this, either in terms of employment or anything else.”
Planning officer Derek Carnegie replied: “I must defend my profession. We are professional planners.
“We present a totally independent, well argued, thoughtful case that you can either accept or disagree with.
“We work to professional guidance. If you want us to be puppets, you will not find members of the Royal Town Planning Institute giving you advice.”
The meeting had earlier heard from a string of critics opposing the development, including Basingstoke and Deane Borough Councillor planning chief Horace Mitchell and Hampshire County Council highways expert Steve Jenkins.
They both said the effect on Hampshire’s road was unpalatable, and that the £843,000 offered to the county to mitigate against the extra traffic was simply not enough to deal with the burden of extra traffic.
Local resident Susan Moore-Brown said: “This will affect anyone who travels on any part of the A339 from Chieveley to Basingstoke. This will effect you directly and anyone in your family.
“My driveway goes onto the A339, and my daughter’s school is on the A339. In the last month I’ve witnessed six car crashes on that 1.6 mile journey.”
ProLogis representative Gerald Knight emphasised the benefit Austrian construction company Doka would bring to Newbury in terms of job opportunities.
Speaking after the meeting ProLogis indicated they would ignore the councillors' rejection by taking an earlier rejected application on to appeal by public inquiry.
That plan was turned down last year, and would deliver even worse visual blight than proposals that so dismayed councillors tonight.
ProLogis vice president Neil Dickinson said: "We're disappointed with the result. It wasn't what we were looking for.
"It's clear that the right forum for the determination of this type of application is at appeal, and we look forward to a conclusion in August."