Crucial votes in the golf course saga

The Advertiser reported (April 13) how the main parties and political groups contesting the RBWM local elections would address the redevelopment of Maidenhead Golf Course.

All opposition parties, apart from Labour, would aim to stop the development.

The Conservatives, presumably as a result of public opinion and the approach of the local council elections, are aiming to reduce the number of homes on the development to 1,500 – still far too many.

Going back to 2017 when the BLP was published specifying 2,000 homes on the golf course, hundreds of residents objected and this resulted in the formation of Braywick Action Group for Maidenhead’s Green Belt (BAG). The main aims of BAG were:

1. Persuade RBWM not to develop the golf course.

2. If development does take place on the golf course that it is minimised to retain as much greenbelt, retain as many trees, protect as much wildlife and be as least impactful on neighbouring areas as possible.

Members of BAG attended many public council meetings and tried to engage unsuccessfully with the council leadership.

We therefore, asked for a meeting with Theresa May to seek her help in this matter since she had previously registered her objections to the building of even 1,000 homes on the golf course.

We duly met with Mrs May and stated that if development on the golf course had to take place then we should like to propose that the number of new homes be limited to 1,000.

The logic for this figure was based on similar proposed developments on a number of golf courses throughout

England.

We suggested that if the number of new homes was reduced to 1,000 or less then with careful planning it would be possible for the site to accommodate a park or even a nine hole golf course.

Mrs May contacted the council leadership with our request for a meeting.

However, no meeting was offered.

Instead we were advised by the council leadership by email to submit our comments in writing concerning the BLP.

Our written comments were ignored.

If it proves that it is too late to prevent any development on the golf course, then the number of homes should be limited to no more than 1,000.

By doing this, the site could accommodate a park which would provide benefits for residents and future generations.

I am certain that councillors will remember that two years ago almost 4,500 residents signed a petition to turn the golf course into Maidenhead Great Park.

The petition was debated at an Extraordinary Full Council meeting on March 2 2021, and it was only defeated by one vote.

GEORGE MIDGLEY Walker Road Maidenhead