Thatcham Town Council raises objections for plans for up to 90 homes

Thatcham farmer, Caroline Graham, had submitted plans to West Berkshire Council for a development on Greenfield land east of Tull Way.
Residents of the surrounding roads had already given a thumbs down to the proposals but at a town council planning committee considering the prop0osal last night (Thursday), members of the town council had their say.
Almost all councillors had the same reaction and voiced objections to the plans on the grounds that they claimed there was a lack of infrastructure to support the development, that the houses would dominate the sky-line because the land is elevated and because of flooding issues it could cause.
They also said that there were Brownfield sites in the town which could be built on, rather than a Greenfield site, in order for Thatcham to fulfil its quota for housing development within West Berkshire.
The town council's planning consultant, Chris Watts, said the houses would be prominent and part of the future landscape.
The town councillors all raised objections except for Richard Crumly who abstained and said he did not predetermine his vote when it came to West Berkshire Council’s planning committee.
Cold Ash Parish Council has also raised objections to the plans because of the pressures it would put on the existing infrastructure, because the agricultural land should not be lost to development and because of flooding issues.
The final decision on the proposal is expected to be made by West Berkshire Council by mid-May.
The application was submitted by Carter Jonas on behalf of Mrs Graham.