Greenham "has had its fair share of homes"

Council blasted for listing protected site in controversial housing document

WEST Berkshire Council has come under fire after an area of green space in Greenham protected by a covenant was approved as a preferred housing site.

Land to the north of Haysoms Drive and that adjoining Equine Way has been earmarked for between 140 and 160 properties in the council’s Development Plan Document (DPD).

In 1992, property developer Rivar Limited entered a covenant with Newbury District Council to set aside the land for open space in exchange for building the Motor Trade Park.

The agreement, which is binding for 125 years, also states that no buildings can be constructed other than those for recreational use.

Now, just 23 years after the covenant was signed, West Berkshire Council has approved the land as a preferred development site.

A further 95 homes nearby have been rejected from the DPD at this stage, but could be brought forward later in the council’s development plan.

Rivar is heading up the planning process and screening the site ahead of a 180-home proposal.

Speaking at a special meeting to approve the DPD, disappointed councillor Billy Drummond (Lib Dem, Greenham) said the meeting contained an air of déjâ vu.

He said: “It takes me back to the Sandleford decision – out, then in again; no surprise with this Tory-controlled council.

“I am here representing all the voters of Greenham who say enough is enough. We in Greenham have had over our fair share of housing developments.

“The roads are almost full, bringing back the dark days before the Newbury bypass.”

Referring to the covenant protecting the Haysoms Drive site, Mr Drummond said: “One hundred and forty houses doesn’t seem to fit this bill.”

The former chairman of Greenham Parish Council, Tony Forward, said: “By their enthusiasm not to build elsewhere, West Berkshire Council have ensured land dedicated for public use for years to come has been lost, so again Greenham’s loss has been a developers’ gain.

“Greenham should now be called Brownham.”

He added that the council was effectively giving away land that could balance the concerns from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust about the impact of public access to Greenham Common.

Greenham parish councillor Julian Swift-Hook said the council was riding rough-shod over Greenham residents once again.

He said: “We need more housing in West Berkshire, but I don’t understand why the council wants to build on yet more greenfield land when there are so many used sites in Newbury that can easily be developed.

“The numbers are wrong, the consultation is flawed, and all in all this has been a disastrous process, led by a Tory council completely out of touch with the people it is are supposed to represent.”

A spokesman for West Berkshire Council, Martin Dunscombe, said: “We’re aware of the covenant and have discussed it with the site promoter, but we don’t believe it affects the delivery of that particular housing site.”

Mr Dunscombe said that the sites in the DPD has been carefully considered and that last year’s consultation, which the council didn’t have to carry out, helped shape the final plan.

He said: “Through our plan we’ve ensured that an area of public open space remains between Newbury and Greenham and believe public access will be increased.

“A formal consultation on our plan began this week and we’d encourage people to take part in the process.”