Residents meet to oppose Lower Way housing site

West Berkshire Council is running a consultation period on its preferred sites for new housing across the district; and in Thatcham, approximately four hectares of agricultural land to the south of Lower Way has been identified as a site for up to 87 homes.
The site forms part of the Thatcham Moors Nature Reserve although the council says it does not contain any protected species that would prevent development.
Last Monday, 91 Thatchamites turned out in force at a public meeting, organised by the community, to air their views.
Lower Way resident Brian Ruddock said he was one of a privileged few to receive a letter on the consultation and helped form the meeting to raise awareness among the large number of people who would be affected if the site were to be developed.
He said: “If that field is developed on it will reduce the quality of life in one of the few places in Thatcham where we have open space.”
Mr Ruddock said that a Facebook group and Twitter account would be created, as well as going door-to-door, to spread the message to the large number of people who did not live within the 100 metres of the site that the district council had sent letters to.
Former town mayor Allison Stevens explained that Lower Way was the only preferred option out of eight other sites for the town.
However, she said that reasons for the other sites being rejected, such as flooding, rural character and forming part of a local wildlife site, could also all apply to the land at Lower Way.
Mrs Stevens advised people to take part in the consultation process and provide valid reasons for their objections.
She said: “There are no orange planning notices yet and I hope there never will be. If it does get through it won’t be through the lack of us not trying to get it through.”
People then had a chance to sign a petition drafted by Liberal Democrat councillors for Thatcham West, Jeff Brooks and Keith Woodhams, which everyone at the meeting had signed by the end.
Mr Brooks said he thought that the council had launched the consultation at the wrong time; when people were on holiday or distracted.
Indeed, one resident said that she wanted to obtain capacity figures from local schools, which were currently closed for the summer.
Mr Brooks added that he would ask the council to extend the consultation deadline again and urged residents to attend the meeting at which the decision on sites would be made.
He said: “I need you all there as that influences councillors who have to walk past you. Come to the meeting and they will sense that strength of feeling. You should be aware that neither Keith or I want this development. We also believe there are enough Brownfield sites to fill the housing need.”
The consultation period will run until September 12 and copies of the Development Plan Document will be available at council offices, libraries and on the council website.
Following the consultation, the district council will prepare a detailed plan to go before full council in December.