Thatcham Town Council raises concerns about plans for Dunston Field housing

Councillors were reacting to initial plans, submitted by Donnington New Homes for a new housing development at land north of Floral Way and adjacent to Bradley Moore Square.
The firm envisages that the site could accommodate up to 250 properties as well as open space, landscaped corridors, flood attenuation measures and space for a new primary school if there was demand for it.
After an initial look at the plans, the town council responded less than enthusiastically about the proposals at its planning committee meeting last Thursday (4).
The council's planning consultant, Chris Watts, gave his initial thoughts and concerns about the proposals.
These included the height of the new housing development which could detract from the countryside skyline, flooding and the issue of the primary school as he said that 250 houses was not enough to warrant a new school.
He said: "My concern is that there's nothing stopping the development going further and the impact on the gap between Thatcham and the settlement to the north.
"It's an issue.
"The other issue is the question of general infrastructure - the one I'm most concern with is foul damage."
He said that when the proposal for 550 homes on Siegecross was brought up, a number of issues were raised by the town council and added: "The same questions have arose out of this.
"We submitted the response that it raised strategic issues and we should take into account development in other areas."
Town councillor, Gary Johnson (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) said that they had had four or five of these pre-application consultations through recently and his concern was that they were becoming very vague, meaning the council could not make decisions on them.
Town and district councillor, Richard Crumly (Con, Thatcham Central) said that once the developers had broken through the barriers and made 250 homes a "cosy development", they could want to build more homes.
"it's inevitable", he said.
Chairwoman of the committee, Lynne Pettyfer (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) said: "We need to be vigilant."
Last week, residents of the town were able to give their reactions following a public exhibition to which they came back with a mixture of positive reactions or big objections.
space for a new primary school.
Thatcham resident, Richard Garvie, said: "I'm concerned about the lack of infrastructure that is being proposed and also the contingency planning around flood risks.
There is already an issue with traffic building on Floral Way, and as we have seen in recent years there is also an issue flooding.
The developers need to demonstrate that this development will not further increase the risk of flooding or have a serious impact on traffic management, and unfortunately from what I have seen, there is nothing in place that will protect existing residents and it is those residents who we need to take care of during this process."
Land for a new primary school has been factored into the plan, however, managing director of Donnington New Homes, Mark Norgate, said that other external factors would need to be in place for the school to be built – this included more houses being built thus creating a greater need for school places in Thatcham.