Lively response to housing consultation

On Monday, August 18, Lambourn Parish Council hosted the second of its public consultations in the Memorial Hall.
By 11am, just half way through, more than 20 people had arrived to peruse the plans and discuss the implications.
Even more are expected to attend the next two, held during an evening and on a weekend (see details below).
A new document has unveiled West Berkshire Council’s preferred options for future housing development in the village.
In option one, the 5.7 hectares adjoining Lynch Lane are considered to be suitable for 56 homes while, in option two, land between Folly Road, Rockfel Road and Stork House Drive is considered suitable for approximately 24 homes.
It is the policy of the parish council to favour small developments of less than 10 houses and vice chairwoman Sue Cocker said: “The main concerns on everyone’s mind are flooding and sewage, given what we’ve been through in the village recently. Whatever Thames Water says, the system can’t cope.
“We appreciate we need affordable housing to support the racing industry but currently the infrastructure is insufficient and it’s difficult to see a solution until the drainage issue is satisfactorily addressed. Lynch Lane was one of the worst flooding sites and if you build in Rockfel Road, where is the run-off going to go? It comes down through the existing housing.”
Anne Saunders, who lives on Folly Road, agreed: “When it rains, the road gets flooded already, and there’s a lot of traffic as it is.”
Villager Matthew Rees said of the second option: “The land just isn’t suitable for a further 24 homes. It’s currently used for equestrian training and the access - a small, narrow road - is insufficient. It would have a big impact on existing residents because there are already issues with traffic and parking.
“It seems to me that the only way to gain access would be to infringe on a communal green area used for pleasure and recreation.”
Sue Holdway said she and husband Barry were concerned about traffic and access issues in Folly Road and Rockfel Road and added: “We’ve also had awful problems with flooding - the water runs straight across the road with nowhere to go.”
Barry Saunders pointed out: “What might be considered a modest development in a town or city will have a major impact here.”
Mrs Cocker encouraged villagers to attend the consultation meetings and to make their views known.
She added: “The more feedback we have from residents, the better we can formulate a response on their behalf.”
The next public consultation meetings will be held in the Memorial Hall on Wednesday, August 27 between 6pm and 8pm and on Saturday, August 30, between 9am and 12pm.
There will then be a public meeting to discuss the feedback at the Memorial Hall on Friday, September 5, from 7.30pm.