Great Park campaigners plan protest at town hall
Maidenhead: Group wants to see golf course used for public open space
Campaigners opposed to the development of Maidenhead Golf Course have announced their intention to hold a protest outside the town hall next month.
With more than 2,000 homes set to be built on the site, the golf course is the largest allocation of the Borough Local Plan (BLP), which Cllr David Coppinger (Con, Bray) has previously said could be approved before the end of 2021.
With only one full council meeting scheduled before 2022, organisers are planning to hold the protest at 6.30pm on Tuesday, November 23.
Debbie Walker, one of the key petitioners for Maidenhead Great Park, said the golf course is ‘really important to the residents of Maidenhead’ since it was bought by the council ‘to protect the land so that it remained as open space’ in 1953.
She said: “Fast forward to almost 70 years later, our council, even though there’s a climate emergency, think that this is the time to sell it off to develop it. It’s really important at this time that we protect green space and wildlife habitats.
“We’re demonstrating to send a message to the council that we want them to not adopt the Borough Local
Plan, which, if adopted, will give themselves permission to build on the golf course.”
A letter sent by the BLP’s inspector, Louise Phillips, confirmed the ONS’ 2018based projections for household growth ‘forecast a noticeably lower level of household growth' than the 2012-based projections.
At the time, the Royal Borough responded by saying the ‘2018-based housing projections do not represent a meaningful change in the housing situation’.
Ms Walker added that this fact, as well as ‘accelerated changes’ to remote working practices and shopping habits meant the council should ‘rethink’ the BLP.
She also said that she did not believe the council’s promise of a ‘green public open space’ in the redeveloped golf course was ‘a fair compromise’.
“I firmly believe that if the people stand together, we can get change, and we can show our council that they’re not thinking of the future and show them that the people of the Royal Borough are looking for protection of their environment,” said Debbie.
A spokesperson for RBWM said the redevelopment of the golf course was ‘a crucial part of Maidenhead’s regeneration.’
They added: “It will open-up significant parts of green space for public access, improve walking and cycling connectivity for residents. It will accommodate future population growth while preventing speculative green belt development across the borough through the adoption of a valid local plan.
“The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead recognises the challenges posed by climate change, and we remain committed to our Environment and Climate Strategy which was adopted last December”.