Villagers in campaign to 'Keep Midgham Rural'

“IT would be tragic to witness the loss of this beautiful country area.”

That was the view of one of the many Midgham residents who are rallying together in an attempt to block a planning application which they fear will ruin the character of the village.

Anchor Leasing and Finance Ltd has applied for a change of use to turn Sabre House – a light industrial unit opposite the Coach and Horses pub – into a commercial van sales and repair unit.

And residents are furious that the applicant has already ripped out a hedge and erected a large fence without consulting them and despite planning permission not yet being approved.

But it isn’t just the local community who have been angered – it has since emerged that the uprooted hedge actually belongs to West Berkshire Council, which has reprimanded the landowner for their actions and invalidated the application due to confusion over who owns what land.

One resident, Maria Bird, said: “Although keen to support local businesses, I’m afraid this is just a step too far in the location of Midgham – a rural hamlet.

“It seems that it is not in keeping with the surrounding area to have cars/vans sales as Anchor have created in Aldermaston.

“Already hedges and trees belonging to the council have been destroyed on the A4 boundaries by Anchor – immediately changing the face of Midgham Marsh.”

Another villager, Jean Hill, said: “It would be tragic to witness the loss of this beautiful natural country area, when there are so many other areas that are more suitable.”

The application has prompted a campaign to ‘Keep Midgham Rural’, with more than 500 people liking the group’s Facebook page. The group has sent out a letter to other residents, urging them to object to the plans.

In the letter, it outlines their concerns which centre around access to the site from the A4 Bath Road, the impact on the environment and preserving the character of the area.

A spokesman for West Berkshire Council, Keith Ulyatt, said: “Residents have complained about removal of the hedge which was on the council’s highway land.

“Our officers have been out there and met the residents and have also met the landowners and admonished them for their actions which they should definitely not have taken.

“We are now deciding on the best way of re-instating the hedge which has been cut down rather than dug up, but are in agreement with the residents of the need for it to be re-instated in the most effective way possible.”

Jannine Silver, who helped launch the campaign, said it failed to make a “positive contribution” to life in Midgham.

James Spackman (Lib Dem), a parish councillor for nearby Woolhampton, said: “I have spoken to probably a third of the people in Midgham and I don’t think there is anyone who isn’t worried by future development.”

If the application is approved, the site will comprise 64 parking spaces and the company say they will employ 37 staff.

Anchor Vans are due to attend a Midgham Parish Council meeting on Tuesday to talk about the plans.